MANILA, Philippines – In an up-and-down and extremely physical quarterfinals series, Magnolia rebounded from the brink and forced a do-or-die Game 5 with a 129-100 whipping of Rain or Shine in the 2024 PBA Governors’ Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Tuesday, October 1.
As multiple bodies hit the floor with mini scuffles from buzzer to buzzer, Paul Lee rose above the rest with 25 points on a stellar 3-of-4 line from four-point land, while import Jabari Bird took care of business inside, pounding the hapless Painters interior defense with a game-high 30 on a 12-of-18 clip.
“I think I just stayed locked in. I just did my routine, what I do everyday. I just embraced the moment and physicality,” Lee said in Filipino after recovering from a lackluster 6-point Game 3 outing.
“We’re very happy that we were all laser-focused tonight. We didn’t mind what happened last game. We just gave ourselves a chance.”
Rising from a 2-11 starting slump, Magnolia equalized in time with a 26-all stalemate at the end of the first quarter, leading to a Bird-powered 27-10 spark to start the second frame, capped with a silky mid-range jumper with 3:33 left, 53-36, that Rain or Shine failed to recover from.
Refusing to let up until the end, the Hotshots peaked by as many as 33 points, 129-96, before Shaun Ildefonso set the final score with his lone field goal from four.
Sniping specialist Jerrick Ahanmisi backstopped Lee from way out with 14 points on 2-of-3 fours and 1-of-3 from three, while Mark Barroca flexed his two-way chops with 10 points and game-highs of 6 assists and 4 steals as Magnolia sat out injured forward Zavier Lucero.
Import Aaron Fuller paced the loss – Rain or Shine’s second blowout setback after a historic 69-121 Game 2 shellacking – with a 22-point, 10-rebound double-double.
Jhonard Clarito added 15 points, while Beau Belga, Andrei Caracut, and Adrian Nocum all scored 11 each.
The Scores
Magnolia 129 – Bird 30, Lee 25, Ahanmisi 14, Barroca 10, Sangalang 10, Abueva 9, Dionisio 9, Dela Rosa 9, Mendoza 8, Eriobu 5, Laput 0.
Rain or Shine 100 – Fuller 22, Clarito 15, Belga 11, Nocum 11, Caracut 11, Mamuyac 10, Aistio 5, Santillan 4, Tiongson 4, Ildefonso 4, Datu 2, Lemetti 1, Norwood 0.
Quarters : 26-26, 62-44, 99-79, 129-100.
– Rappler.com
