Hotshots deflect Warriors, seal title clash vs Beermen

MANILA, Philippines — San Miguel Beer and Magnolia, teams with a long-running classic rivalry in the PBA Philippine Cup in the early 90s, will slug it out again for the coveted crown in the league’s premier tourney.

Magnolia endured a gut-wrenching battle with NLEX before pouncing on the Road Warriors’ two crucial errors at endgame to carve out a 96-89 win and claim the last berth in the 2018 PBA Philippine Cup Finals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last night.

The Hotshots translated Kiefer Ravena and Larry Fonacier’s back-to-back errant passes into a pivotal 5-0 closing binge that propelled Magnolia to the finals versus reigning three-peat champion San Miguel Beer.

Game One of the best-of-seven finale starts Friday, also at the Big Dome.

“NLEX gave us a tough, tough fight. They prepared us mentally and physically for the finals,” said Magnolia coach Chito Victolero.

The Hotshots and the Beermen meet in a finale for only the second time as sister ball clubs under the giant SMC conglomerate.

With the original Purefoods ballclub still under the Ayala Group, the Hotdogs (now the Hotshots) and the Beermen were fierce all-Filipino rivals, clashing for the crown four times in a six-year stretch starting in 1989.

Future PBA Hall-of-Famers Ramon Fernandez, Samboy Lim and Hector Calma led the Beermen in their 4-2 conquest of the Hotdogs in their 1989 Philippine Cup title duel to start a grand slam run.

San Miguel also prevailed over Purefoods in 1992 and 1994. Carrying the banner of Coney Island, Alvin Patrimonio and his teammates pulled one over the Beermen in 1993.

Ian Sangalang (15 points and 11 rebounds), Jio Jalalon (13 assists and 11 points) and Mark Barroca (14 markers and 10 boards) all churned out double-double numbers while Aldrech Ramos and Kyle Pascual contributed 10 points apiece as they fended off NLEX’s determined challenge and closed out their tough semis series in six games, 4-2.

“Credit to coach Yeng Guiao and to his system that I really look up to, even without Kevin Alas and JR Quiñahan, they made it tough for us. But it’s our defense, will and desire that helped us through,” said Victolero of the key in their return to the finals for the first time since their grand slam season in 2013-14.

The outcome remained unclear until Ravena passed to a wrong guy which Barroca parlayed into a three-point play, giving Magnolia a 94-89 lead with 1:32 left to play.

Then from a timeout, Fonacier also committed a passing error, paving the way for a Jalalon layup that made it 96-89.

Magnolia also cashed in on Quinahan’s ejection midway in the second period on a flagrant foul penalty 2 against Jalalon.

The scores:

Magnolia 96 — Sangalang 15, Barroca 14, Jalalon 11, Pascual 10, Ramos 10, Dela Rosa 9, Lee 9, Reavis 6, Simon 6, Herndon 4, Brondial 2

NLEX 89 — Miranda 20, Fonacier 17, Baguio 10, Ravena 9, Mallari 8, Taulava 7, Soyud 6, Tiongson 5, Quiñahan 4, Ighalo 3

Quarterscores: 20-29, 49-46, 71-68, 96-89