Hotshots strike back

MANILA, Philippines — After coughing a franchise all-time low 51 last time, Magnolia returned with sharpened weapons and doubled its scoring output in an atonement performance that led to quarterfinal qualification.

With their offense clicking side by side with their usual defensive spunk, the Hotshots disposed of Terrafirma, 108-100, to climb out of a two-game slide and into the PBA Philippine Cup playoffs yesterday at the PhilSports Arena.

At 6-4, Chito Victolero’s charges joined San Miguel Beer (10-0) and Barangay Ginebra (7-3) in the next round with a game to spare in their elimination slate. Along the way, they forced the Dyip to a final record of 5-6, tied for eighth with NorthPort at presstime.

The Hotshots will wrap it up against TNT (5-5) on Sunday. Out of contention for Top 2 and twice-to-beat, the Magnolia cagers can go as high as third seed and as low as sixth heading into the best-of-3 quarterfinal series.

Victolero got the usual numbers from Ian Sangalang (23 points, eight rebounds), Mark Barroca (21) and Paul Lee (17 markers with seven assists) in bouncing back from the horrendous 51-74 beating from Meralco last Sunday and an earlier 98-91 setback to SMB.

But it was 46-year-old veteran Rafi Reavis who provided the big difference, knocking down 10 and grabbing 13 boards, some of them at a time when Magnolia was fending off Terrafirma’s searing rally in the fourth. The return of Jio Jalalon (seven points, five assists, two steals) from injury also helped the Hotshots› cause.

“We’re a veteran team and it happened that we had a bad game last time. We just tried to move forward. Sabi ko nga during the practice, yung destiny namin kontrolado namin. We just have to bounce back, play hard and have a ‘playoff mentality’ sa practice pa lang,” said Victolero.

The Hotshots scored 57 more points than in their previous setback against the defensive-savvy Bolts that halted their quarterfinal advance.

“It was a bad offensive game last time and we give credit to Meralco’s defense. As for us, we need to get better offensively because defensively, we’re already good,” said Victolero.

The Hotshots spoiled the season-high 32 of Dyip rookie Stephen Holt, who also had eight dimes.

Meanwhile, the Beermen aim to complete an 11-game sweep of the elims today at 6:15 p.m. against quarters-chasing Meralco (5-5) at the Batangas City Coliseum.

Blackwater (3-7) and Phoenix (3-7), meanwhile, eye a graceful exit and 10th place finish in a duel of ousted teams at 3 p.m. over at the Ynares Arena in Pasig City.