Hotshots nip Painters to grab Group B top spot

ANTIPOLO, Rizal – The Magnolia Hotshots secured the top seed of Group B play after squeaking past the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, 107-103, in the PBA Governors’ Cup Wednesday night at the Ynares Center here.

With the win, Magnolia set a best-of-five quarterfinal date with the TNT Tropang 5G, who will field a recovered Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Calvin Oftana. 

Javi Gomez-de Liano powered the Hotshots with 19 points, five rebounds, an assist and a block, while Peter Alfaro had 17 markers. KJ Buffen and Jerom Lastimosa chipped in 16 points apiece in the win. 

It was a close game through the early goings of the final frame, with Rain or Shine trailing by just three, 83-86, following a jumper by Santi Santillan. 

Slowly, though, Magnolia started to pull away, taking a 102-92 lead off a layup by Yukien Andrada.

An 8-2 run capped by a Santillan deuce, then, sliced the deficit to four, 100-104, with 3:22 left, before Gomez-de Liano answered with a triple of his own to push the advantage to seven, 107-100, with 2:53 remaining. 

An and-one play by Adrian Nocum made it a one-possession ballgame, 103-107, but neither team was able to buy a basket late in the game as Magnolia held on. 

In the game's final play, Deo Cuajao tried to tie things up with a 4-pointer, but his attempt missed as he fished for a foul, much to the dismay of Rain or Shine head coach Yeng Guiao. 

According to PBA chief statistician Fidel Mangonon III, Magnolia will be facing TNT in the playoffs for the third time in the last four conferences. 

Andrada produced 11 points off the bench for Magnolia. 

Nocum top-scored for Rain or Shine with 25 points, six rebounds, a steal and a block. Aaron Fuller backstopped with 18 points, six rebounds and an assist in 12 minutes of play, while Felix Lemetti had 11 points. 

Magnolia thus ended the elimination round with a 7-3 record. Rain or Shine dropped to 5-4 and could still finish as the fourth seed depending on the remaining elimination games on Friday. 

The Elasto Painters will take on the Phoenix Fuel Masters, who are also holding a 5-4 slate, while Ginebra (4-5) will face the 3-6 Blackwater Bossing on Friday at the same venue.