ANTIPOLO, Rizal -- The Magnolia Hotshots held the NLEX Road Warriors to just four points over the first six minutes of the fourth period to pull away for an 87-78 win and a crucial 3-2 lead in their 2018 PBA Philippine Cup semifinal series at the Ynares Center.
The Hotshots can wrap it up on Tuesday and arrange a championship duel with the San Miguel Beermen, who finished off the Barangay Ginebra Kings Saturday in the other semifinal series. The team hasn't been in a PBA finals since their 2013-14 grand slam when they were still known as the San Mig Coffee Mixers.
Mark Barroca had 18 and Paul Lee chipped in 15 while Aldrech Ramos came off the bench with another 15 points in a balanced Magnolia attack.
"I told my boys to concentrate on defense," Hotshots coach Chito Victolero said. "But we haven't accomplished anything yet. There's still one more win. It was a total team effort."
The Hotshots did turn to their defense at the start of the payoff period, limiting the Road Warriors to a pair of baskets for the first six minutes while hitting their stride on offense to break open what had been a tight contest.
Neither team could make much headway in the first half, with Magnolia's early 11-4 lead being the largest enjoyed by either team over the first two quarters.
Barroca, Sangalang, and Aldrech Ramos conspired in a 9-0 run that gave the Hotshots an eight-point lead at 50-42 with 5:20 to go in the third period, but the Road Warriors responded with a 12-4 blast to tie it up at 54, 1:37 to go in the third.
The Hotshots opened up the fourth period with an 11-2 run to establish the first double-digit lead of the game at 70-60, time down to 8:36. A three-point play by Ramos off a Larry Fonacier foul pushed the lead up to 13 at 75-62 with 5:59 to go. The lead ballooned to as high as 18 at 84-66 as Lee and Rome Dela Rosa scattered four points each and Sangalang added a free throw in a 9-2 run that sealed the deal for the Hotshots with just 3:09 to go.
Kiefer Ravena had 21 points and Alex Mallari added 13 for the Road Warriors, who are playing in their first semifinals but are now faced with a must-win situation if they are to extend their Philippine Cup run.
THE SCORES
Magnolia (87) - Barroca 18, Lee 15, Ramos 15, Sangalang 12, Simon 7, Dela Rosa 6, Reavis 4, Pascual 4, Jalalon 2, Gamalinda 2, Brondial 2, Herndon 0.
NLEX (78) - Ravena 21, Mallari 13, Soyud 11, Fonacier 9, Miranda 8, Quinahan 8, Rios 3, Tiongson 2, Taulava 2, Baguio 1, Alas 0.
Quarters: 20-20, 37-36, 59-58, 87-78
EXTRA DRIBBLES
Kevin Alas left the game after just 26 seconds after sustaining a knee injury and did not return. He is scheduled to have his knee examined on Monday.
The Hotshots were slapped with two flagrant foul penalty 1s in the second quarter, one of Bambam Gamalinda and one on Jio Jalalon.
If Magnolia closes it out on Tuesday, Game 1 of the finals will be on Friday. If not, Game 1 will be on Sunday.
NEXT GAME
Game 6 March 20 7PM at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum