MANILA – Magnolia Pambansang Manok Hotshots bucked a slow start to score a 93-85 victory over Meralco Bolts in Game 6 of the 2021 PBA Philippine Cup semifinals last night at the Don Honorio Ventura State University Gym in Bacolor, Pampanga.
Ian Sangalang tallied 19 points, 14 rebounds and six assists while Andy Mark Barroca and Rome dela Rosa contributed 16 markers apiece.
The Hotshots wrapped up the best-of-seven series at 4-2 to reach the championship round.
Calvin Abueva and Jiovani Jalalon contributed 11 markers each for the Hotshots, which survived a subpar showing by Paul Lee who was held to just four points on 0-of-9 shooting.
Down by as much as 11 points in the second quarter, the Hotshots leaned on conversions by Sangalang, Barroca and Abueva to seize a 44-40 advantage at the half.
Consecutive shots from Abueva and Dela Rosa to start the third quarter gave the Hotshots a 68-57 lead but the Bolts clawed its way back to trim the deficit to 68-72 heading into the fourth.
Magnolia clung to a 78-74 lead in the fourth period before going on a finishing run on inside hits by Sangalang and a triple by Dela Rosa for a 93-82 lead on free throws by Lee.
Raymond Almazan led the Bolts with double-double 16 points and 12 rebounds, while Chris Newsome and Allein Maliksi added 14 and 13 markers, respectively.
In the first game, San Miguel Beermen stretched their best-of-seven semifinals series with TNT Tropang Giga to a do-or-die Game 7 on Sunday after a 103-90 Game 6 domination.
The Beermen set the tone early with consecutive triples by Marcio Lassiter for a 27-21 lead. SMB went on with its rampage in the second period behind Terrence Romeo and Moala Tautuaa for a 53-38 halftime lead.
The Beermen went on to build its largest lead at 84-58 late in the third on a conversion from Jaymar Perez. The Tropang Giga made its last push as it trimmed the deficit to 90-101 but a basket by Arwind Santos sealed the win for SMB.
Tautuaa top-scored for the Beermen with 24 points, Lassiter drilled five triples and finished with 19 markers, while Romeo and Santos chipped in 16 and 13 markers, respectively./PN
BOX SCORE:
MAGNOLIA 93 – Sangalang 19, Barroca 16, Dela Rosa 16, Abueva 11, Jalalon 11, Melton 6, Reavis 6, Corpuz 4, Lee 4, Ahanmisi 0, Dionisio 0.
MERALCO 85 – Almazan 16, Newsome 14, Maliksi 13, Pinto 10, Hodge 9, Quinto 7, Caram 7, Hugnatan 6, Belo 3, Black 0, Pasaol 0, Jamito 0.
Quarterscores: 20-27, 44-40, 72-68, 93-85.
