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PBA: Magnolia shackles SMB for breakthrough Finals win

Action between Magnolia and San Miguel in game 3 of the PBA 48th Season Commissioner's Cup Finals at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City on February 7, 2024. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

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Rom Anzures

ABS-CBN News

<figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments" id="isPasted"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1707320662184.png" alt="Action between Magnolia and San Miguel in game 3 of the PBA 48th Season Commissioner&#x27;s Cup Finals at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City on February 7, 2024. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News" class="fr-fil fr-dib"/><figcaption>Action between Magnolia and San Miguel in game 3 of the PBA 48th Season Commissioner&#x27;s Cup Finals at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City on February 7, 2024. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</figcaption></figure>MANILA (UPDATED) — The Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots have finally tallied a win in the 2023-24 PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals.The Hotshots shackled the San Miguel Beermen, 88-80, in their Game 3 win on Wednesday at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.Mark Barroca had 20 points, six rebounds, and four assists, while Paul Lee scored his series-high of 12 markers alongside three boards and three dimes. Magnolia head coach Chito Victolero credited their defense in the game, saying that holding SMB to shooting only 34% from the field was key to their victory.“If we limit them to less than 90 points, we have a better chance of winning the game,” he said during postgame.“Everyone stepped up defensively, and we hit some big shots, especially Aris Dionisio down the stretch,” he added.Dionisio, Ian Sangalang and Tyler Bey had 11 markers each. But for the one-time PBA champion coach, it was the two-day rest that really allowed Magnolia to play to their potential. “The factor is the two-day rest. Naka-recover yung body namin. We had a hard time doing our defensive schemes because we are only humans, nakakaramdam rin ng pagod,” he said.“Nagawa rin namin yung game plan. Malaking factor na may energy kami,” he added.The Hotshots started the game strongly, holding SMB to only 15 points in comparison to their 24 after the first 12 minutes of action.Jorge Gallent’s troops actually made it a ball game in the second until the early fourth quarter after the two squads exchanged baskets, but the Hotshots suddenly waxed hot all thanks to Barroca, Lee, and Dionisio.Only ahead by three, 63-60, with still 11 minutes left in the game, the trio spearheaded a 13-2 run to distance themselves, 76-62, which was built on baskets from Barroca and three-pointers by Lee and Dionisio.A Sangalang basket at the 5:55 mark extended Magnolia’s lead to its biggest at 16, 80-64, and that proved to be enough as the Hotshots finally halted San Miguel’s 11-game win streak.This was SMB’s worst offensive game in the series so far for after averaging 106 points in the first two games, the Beermen were held to under 80 points. This was on par with Magnolia’s points allowed per game during the eliminations at 87.9.Bennie Boatwright led SMB in scoring with 27 points and 13 rebounds. CJ Perez followed with 16 points, while June Mar Farado and Jeron Teng contributed 11 and 10, respectively.<div>The Scores:</div>MAGNOLIA — 88 – Barroca 20, Lee 12, Bey 11, Sangalang 11, Dionisio 11, Jalalon 10, Dela Rosa 7, Abueva 6, Escoto 0, Laput 0, Reavis 0SAN MIGUEL — 80 – Boatwright 27, Perez 16, Fajardo 11, Teng 10, Trollano 7, Lassiter 4, Brondial 3, Ross 2, Enciso 0, Tautuaa 0QUARTERS: 24-15, 42-39, 63-58, 88-80

The Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots have finally tallied a win in the 2023-24 PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals.

The Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots have finally tallied a win in the 2023-24 PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals.