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PBA: Magnolia weathers Mikey Williams' explosion to win Game 3

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Camille B. Naredo, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="The Magnolia Hotshots got back in the best-of-seven Finals series with a Game 3 victory. PBA Media Bureau" src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/sports/10/24/20211024-magnolia-tnt-pba.jpg?ext=.jpg"/><figcaption>The Magnolia Hotshots got back in the best-of-seven Finals series with a Game 3 victory. PBA Media Bureau</figcaption></figure></div>MANILA (UPDATED) - The Magnolia Hotshots survived a record-setting performance by TNT rookie Mikey Williams to win Game 3 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals, 106-98, on Sunday night at the Don Honorio Ventura State University Gym in Bacolor, Pampanga.The Hotshots worked their way back in the best-of-seven series, trimming the Tropang GIGA&#x27;s lead to 2-1 after losing the first two games by big margins.To do so, they had to weather a superb outing by Williams, who exploded for 39 points on 14-of-25 shooting from the field, making 10 of his 18 three-pointers in the game. According to PBA statistician Fidel Mangonon III, Williams tallied the highest-scoring game by a rookie in the PBA Finals since Erik Menk scored 42 points for Tanduay in the 1999 All-Filipino Cup against Shell. His 10 3-pointers were also the most in a Finals game.Magnolia, in contrast, used a balanced scoring effort to offset Williams, with Paul Lee (21 points), Ian Sangalang (20), Mark Barroca (16) and Calvin Abueva (14) all reaching double digits in the victory.&quot;We changed up our defense,&quot; said Magnolia coach Chito Victolero after the game. &quot;Parang medyo maganda &#x27;yung depensa namin compared to the last two games. But ang importante lang dito, we have the proper mindset.&quot;&quot;Sabi ko nga sa kanila, we&#x27;re here in the finals because of our defense. So, we just go back to basics,&quot; he added.Crucially, Magnolia had a good start to the contest. After allowing the Tropang GIGA to score 40 points in the first quarter of Game 2 last Friday, they won the opening frame, 26-20, in Game 3.That allowed the Hotshots to stay in command even after Williams exploded for 18 points in the third quarter alone, with the rookie making six of his eight three-point attempts. Lee and Sangalang combined for 19 points in the third period to keep TNT at bay and give Magnolia an 82-77 lead heading into the final quarter.The Hotshots scored the first 13 points of the fourth quarter to open up a 95-77 lead, their biggest of the game. However, Williams sparked TNT&#x27;s comeback, helped along by Magnolia&#x27;s fouls that allowed the Tropang GIGA to earn free points at the line.A big three-pointer by Williams -- his 10th -- made it a three-point game, 98-95, with still 1:11 to play.But on the other end, Barroca -- dealing with a hamstring injury -- used a Rafi Reavis screen to put up his signature floater that restored a 100-95 lead with 52 seconds to go. Magnolia forced Jayson Castro into a missed three-pointer on the next TNT possession, and two free throws by Rome dela Rosa made it a seven point game, 102-95, with 37 seconds left.TNT gave itself a chance when Dave Marcelo knocked down a three-pointer off a timeout, but dela Rosa and Sangalang were steady at the free throw line to ice the game.&quot;We treat it as one game at a time. We&#x27;ve been here before, and we experienced it,&quot; said Victolero of the Hotshots, who are making a third appearance in the All-Filipino finals in the last four seasons. &quot;Hopefully, we can get a good rest tonight and tomorrow, so that we can prepare for Wednesday&#x27;s game.&quot;Magnolia, after shooting just 39% in Game 3, made 50% of their field goals this time around, and scored 23 points from TNT&#x27;s 17 turnovers. They were also helped by their superb free throw shooting as the Hotshots knocked down 27 of their 29 freebies in the game.Apart from Williams, TNT&#x27;s other scoring options were shackled. Roger Pogoy had 14 points on 4-of-11 shooting, and Poy Erram had 10 points on 5-of-11 from the field. Castro had nine points and six rebounds, but also four turnovers. TNT also lost Troy Rosario to a <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/10/24/21/tnts-troy-rosario-suffers-dislocated-finger-in-game-3">hand injury</a> in the third quarter, with the forward dislocating his left pinky finger after a collision with Magnolia&#x27;s Jackson Corpuz.<div>The Scores :</div>MAGNOLIA 106 – Lee 21, Sangalang 20, Barroca 16, Abueva 14, Jalalon 11, Dela Rosa 9, Corpuz 7, Reavis 5, Ahanmisi 3, Melton 0TNT 98 – M.Williams 39, Pogoy 14, Erram 10, Castro 9, Heruela 8, Marcelo 7, K.Williams 4, Reyes 3, Rosario 2, Khobuntin 2, Montalbo 0, Exciminiano 0, Mendoza 0Quarters : 26-20, 52-46, 82-77, 106-98

The Magnolia Hotshots survived a record-setting performance by TNT rookie Mikey Williams to win Game 3 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals, 106-98.

PBA: Magnolia weathers Mikey Williams' explosion to win Game 3

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PBA: Magnolia weathers Mikey Williams' explosion to win Game 3

Camille B. Naredo,

ABS-CBN News

Published October 24, 2021 07:16 PM PHT

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Updated October 24, 2021 07:56 PM PHT

Read More:

PBA

2021 PBA Philippine Cup Finals

Magnolia Hotshots

TNT Tropang GIGA

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