2023 PBA Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals Schedule (January 17)
Philsports Arena
4 p.m. Phoenix Fuel Masters vs Meralco Bolts
8 p.m. Magnolia Hotshots vs TNT Tropang Giga
PBA: Meralco coach Luigi Trillo lauds gritty Phoenix after tough battle
Meralco Bolts’ coach Luigi Trillo. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—There was nothing easy about how Meralco escaped Phoenix to force a do-or-die game for a spot in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals.
Coach Luigi Trillo acknowledged the a big part of the Bolts’ struggle came at the hands of the Fuel Masters’ “three musketeers,” which consisted of Ken Tuffin, Javee Mocon and Jason Perkins.
“Those ‘three amigos’ there, we call them the ‘three musketeers,’ Tuffin, Mocon and Perk… We got to match their intensity, toughness and play as tough as them,” said Trillo with Inquirer Sports after their 116-107 victory over Phoenix in triple overtime at Philsports Arena on Wednesday.
Video: Magnolia import Tyler Bey and coach Chito Victolero after winning over TNT
WATCH: Magnolia import Tyler Bey and coach Chito Victolero after winning over TNT and reaching the Commissioner’s Cup semifinals.
Victolero explains his familiarity with reaching deep in the playoffs but falling short. | @MeloFuertesINQpic.twitter.com/dHp83HeRKT
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) January 17, 2024
PBA: Tyler Bey propels Magnolia past TNT and into semis
Tyler Bey sparks Magnolia Hotshots into the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines–Tyler Bey led the charge in sending Magnolia to the semifinals of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the expense of quarters foe TNT, 109-94, Wednesday at Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
Bey finished with 41 points, 13 rebounds, five steals and three blocks as the Hotshots pulled away late in the third to become the first team to reach the Final Four of the season’s only import-laden conference.
Magnolia would lead by 19 in the fourth, on its way to having the luxury of waiting for the winner of the quarters clash between Meralco and Phoenix.
PBA Quarterfinals: Magnolia Hotshots (no.1) vs TNT Tropang Giga (no.8)
FINAL: Magnolia advances to the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals after taking down TNT. | @jonasterradoINQ pic.twitter.com/RVbBwtCbpj
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) January 17, 2024
Rahlir steals it from Tyler!
TNT within, 84-93, 5:43 4q #PBAAngatAngLaban pic.twitter.com/C8svZQFFWo
— PBA (@pbaconnect) January 17, 2024
PLAYOFF BASKETBALL HEATING UP
WATCH: TNT's Kib Montalbo and Magnolia’s Tyler Bey had to be separated after a physical play on the Hotshots’ fastbreak. | @MeloFuertesINQ pic.twitter.com/wLvBoDQAh2
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) January 17, 2024
Magnolia with a 50-44 halftime lead over TNT in their PBA Commissioner's Cup quarterfinal encounter. The top seed Hotshots can advance to the semifinals with a win over the eighth-ranked Tropang Giga @INQUIRERSports
— Jonas Terrado (@jonasterradoINQ) January 17, 2024
Abueva attacks Khobuntin’s defense!
5:10 2q Magnolia trails 32-39 #PBAAngatAngLaban pic.twitter.com/pvOnhlKe4t
— PBA (@pbaconnect) January 17, 2024
Quarters! Game 2 Wednesday!
MAGNOLIA
Jalalon
Lee
Dela Rosa
Laput
BeyTNT
Heruela
Oftana
Aurin
Hollis Jefferson
WilliamsStats https://t.co/nO8OdLB89a
Live on
PBA Rush
A2Z
Pilipinas Live app#PBAAngatAngLaban— PBA (@pbaconnect) January 17, 2024
PBA: Bong Quinto steps up for Meralco Bolts after Cliff Hodge exit
Meralco Bolts’ Bong Quinto in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIREr.net
MANILA, Philippines—Meralco’s Bong Quinto had to dig deep to help the Bolts to force a do-or-die game against Phoenix in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals.
Playing for 44 minutes, Quinto tallied 19 points, four assists and two rebounds to help Meralco emerge victorious over the Fuel Masters in triple overtime, 116-107, at Philsports Arena on Wednesday.
What made the forward’s heroics even more gargantuan was the fact that he had to take on the spot of bruiser Cliff Hodge for two more extra periods.
Video: Meralco’s Bong Quinto and coach Luigi Trillo after win over Phoenix
WATCH: Meralco’s Bong Quinto and coach Luigi Trillo after the win over Phoenix. | @MeloFuertesINQ pic.twitter.com/KvksIpmH2M
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) January 17, 2024
PBA playoffs: Meralco escapes Phoenix in 3OT to force do-or-die
Chris Newsome leads Meralco Bolts past Phoenix Fuel Masters in the PBA quarterfinals match. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines–Meralco needed three overtime periods to hurdle past Phoenix and send their PBA Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinal showdown to a sudden death game with a 116-107 win Wednesday at Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
Chris Newsome rescued the Bolts from the jaws of defeat with a game-tying three at the buzzer in regulation before Bong Quinto came through with a key three in the third extra session to prevent the Fuel Masters from succeeding in their first attempt at making the semifinals.
PBA quarterfinals: Phoenix Fuel Masters (no.4) vs Meralco Bolts (no.5)
FINAL: Meralco survives Phoenix in triple overtime, 116-107, to force their PBA Commissioner's Cup quarterfinal showdown to a sudden death. | @jonasterradoINQ pic.twitter.com/1zFoJghZap
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) January 17, 2024
So… yeah… triple overtime. 😬 @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/gs89Km6zLY
— Rommel Fuertes Jr. (@MeloFuertesINQ) January 17, 2024
Tied… AGAIN. 🤯
An inside pass from Aaron Black turns to a tough bucket from Bong Quinto to tie the game at 103-all with 12.4 to go in double overtime. @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/ObAlgEFlcf
— Rommel Fuertes Jr. (@MeloFuertesINQ) January 17, 2024
BUCKLE UP. WE’LL BE HERE A BIT MORE.
WATCH: Phoenix’s Johnathan Williams III failed on several attempts for a game-winner, sending the game to a second overtime at 95-all. | @MeloFuertesINQ pic.twitter.com/so9ydP8Cpk
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) January 17, 2024
❗️BANG❗️
WATCH: Chris Newsome knocks down a triple to send the game to overtime, 84-all.
Five more minutes of action in Pasig coming up. | @MeloFuertesINQ pic.twitter.com/5BeTjS1CSg
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) January 17, 2024
JUST. LIKE. THAT. ⚡️
WATCH: After trailing for the majority of the game, Meralco cuts the lead to one, 82-81, courtesy of an and-one play by Shonn Miller. 1:09 remaining in the game. | @MeloFuertesINQ pic.twitter.com/a0l2TZMvwj
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) January 17, 2024
Black shifts and scores!
Meralco trails, 69-79, 5:10 4q #PBAAngatAngLaban pic.twitter.com/Mw4ABmVHG5
— PBA (@pbaconnect) January 17, 2024
Phoenix holds a 47-39 halftime lead over Meralco in the start of the PBA Commissioner's Cup quarterfinals.
The Fuel Masters carry a twice-to-beat advantage, needing just one win to reach the semifinals. | @jonasterradoINQ
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) January 17, 2024
PLAYOFF ACTION IN PASIG
The PBA Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals begin with a match between Phoenix and Meralco.
The Fuel Masters have a twice-to-beat advantage and they hold a 42-31 lead in the second quarter with 4:09 to go. | @MeloFuertesINQ pic.twitter.com/jAiVpkykLx
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) January 17, 2024
Defenders are nowhere near Perk!
36-21 Phoenix lead. #PBAAngatAngLaban pic.twitter.com/l8xivfUQdu
— PBA (@pbaconnect) January 17, 2024
Quinto misfires! Maliksi makes it drop.
Meralco trails, 15-21 at the start of the 2q #PBAAngatAngLaban pic.twitter.com/gD3qeNdI56
— PBA (@pbaconnect) January 17, 2024
Higher-ranked Magnolia, Phoenix open PBA quarterfinals
Phoenix Fuel Masters’ Johnathan Williams in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Phoenix Super LPG no longer has to look far for a motivational quote just to prime itself up when it plunges into the PBA Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals this Wednesday. Import Johnathan Williams III had since laid things down last weekend.
“Like what ‘J-3’ said, it’s a new season right now—the playoff season,” said coach Jamike Jarin, recalling a postgame huddle his import had on the heels of a sobering loss to TNT on Sunday.
PBA: Christian Standhardinger leads Best Player race
Ginebra’s Christian Standhardinger leads the Best Player of the Conference race. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—At the end of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup elimination round, Ginebra’s Christian Standhardinger emerged as the leading candidate for the Best Player of the Conference (BPC) award.
Standhardinger averaged 17.3 points, 9.6 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.2 steals per game which propelled him atop the BPC race after 11 games.
PBA playoffs: TNT has tools to battle top-ranked Magnolia
Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson (with ball) has drawn raves from coaching staff as a last-minute import replacement. —MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
TNT coach Jojo Lastimosa could hardly enjoy his charges’ 116-96 win over Phoenix Super LPG on Sunday night—even if it gifted the Tropang Giga the last playoff spot in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
He knew exactly what it meant: Facing the top-seeded team of the conference in the knockout stage.
“Magnolia. How about that?” he said with a deep sigh as he made his way back to the team’s dugout at PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.