MANILA — Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots kept their playoff bid alive in emphatic fashion, dismantling Titan Ultra Giant Risers, 135-98, in the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, while NLEX Road Warriors pulled off a dramatic 92-90 escape over Rain or Shine Elasto Painters to tighten the race at the top.
Clinton Chapman led Magnolia’s relentless attack with 31 points, eight rebounds, six assists, and three blocks as the Hotshots improved to 5-5, staying firmly in the playoff hunt.
Zavier Lucero backed him up with 19 points, Javi Gomez de Liaño added 18, while Jerom Lastimosa and Yukien Andrada chipped in 16 and 11, respectively.
Magnolia imposed its will early, seizing a 27-21 edge after the opening quarter before breaking the game wide open in the second period with a 34-20 blast for a commanding 61-41 halftime lead.
The Hotshots never eased up in the second half, sustaining their offensive rhythm while clamping down defensively. Magnolia stretched the margin to as much as 37 points, completely shutting down any hopes of a Titan Ultra comeback.
Despite the loss, Michael Gilmore delivered a monster double-double of 31 points and 24 rebounds for the Giant Risers, who dropped to 2-8. Joshua Munzon and Jerrick Balanza contributed 24 and 12 points, respectively.
In the other game, JB Bahio emerged as the unlikely hero as NLEX snatched a 92-90 victory over Rain or Shine in a dramatic finish.
Following two missed free throws by Rain or Shine’s Jhonard Clarito, Robert Bolick Jr. secured the rebound and found Bahio, who calmly knocked down a short jumper with less than a second remaining to give NLEX the lead.
With just 0.03 seconds left, Bolick sealed the win by intercepting an inbound pass intended for Rain or Shine import Jaylen Johnson.
Bahio finished with nine points — six coming in the fourth quarter — along with seven rebounds, three steals, and an assist, as the Road Warriors forged a tie with the Elasto Painters atop the standings at 8-2./PN
