PBA: Magnolia crushes Phoenix to book semis showdown vs Meralco

Magnolia guard Paul Lee. PBA IMAGES

MANILA, Philippines–Keeping the pedal to the metal all of Friday night, top-seeded Magnolia went on to blast No. 8 Phoenix Super LPG to smithereens, 127-88, to claim the second semifinal berth in the PBA Governors’ Cup.

The Hotshots rolled their sleeves early, throwing the full weight of a complete roster against the Fuel Masters for leads as many as 45 points in a one-sided affair at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.

Paul Lee led the way with 25 points, while seven others—including import Mike Harris—finished with 10 or more.

Magnolia is SEMIS bound!

Final:
Hotshots 127
Fuel Masters 88#PBAiTuloyAngLaban pic.twitter.com/smATW7FTbv

— PBA (@pbaconnect) March 18, 2022

“We prepared hard for this game and we really executed on both ends of the floor. We talked about it in the last three days of our preparation how to minimize the contributions of Matthew Wright, Jason Perkins and their import (Du’vaughn Maxwell),” said coach Chito Victolero.

“I’m just happy we’re through the quarters. But this is only half of the goal. The other half is making the Finals,” he went on.

Maxwell paced Phoenix with 32 points, while Perkins and RR Garcia chipped in 11 and 10, respectively. Wright was only able to register six after fouling out 4:56 mark of the third period.

Magnolia, like Meralco in the game earlier, did not have to fish for its twice-to-beat protection. The two clubs now figure in a best-of-five semifinal series which could begin on Wednesday the earliest.

“Both teams are a defensive-minded team. Expect this to be a good series. I think it’ll be a dogfight between Meralco and Magnolia,” said Victolero.