Hotshots destroy Giant Risers to claim tie for seventh spot
Magnolia stayed within playoff range after a 106-84 demolition job of listless Titan Ultra on Wednesday night and the Hotshots got something going heading into their final push for a better ranking in postelimination round play of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
Import Clint Chapman scored 31 points and led four others in twin digits for the Hotshots, who again tied sister team San Miguel Beer at seventh spot after rising to 5-5 as Magnolia takes a winning feeling going into its last two games in the classification round, which would be against defending champion TNT on Tuesday and Meralco next Sunday.
For the Giant Risers, the loss was the fifth straight in what has been a forgettable tournament, their 2-8 card tied for the worst record in the tournament; along with Blackwater and the Macau Black Knights. They are all out of contention.
Terrafirma, which started out 3-0 before falling back to its pathetic ways by losing its next six matches, still holds a wafer-thin chance of advancing , with Converge the only team with the realistic chance of dislodging either the Bolts, Phoenix, the Beermen or the Hotshots at No. 8.
Magnolia holds the advantage in the tiebreaker in case the Hotshots wind up tied with the Beermen after the eliminations.
The win was a big bounce back for the Hotshots, who took an emotional 91-82 loss to league-leader Rain or Shine last Sunday.
“I challenged my players that this is a test of character for us on how we will bounce back with that kind of loss. It was a big loss for us,” Magnolia coach LA Tenorio said. “This is the kind of game where we can see the sense of urgency from everyone, the focus and discipline in all the we do.
“This (stretch of games until Sunday) is it,” he went on. “We need to let it all hang out.”
Tenorio emphasized the importance of defense, knowing that his crew can be a very explosive one, like what happened in the second quarter, where Magnolia scored 34 points to take a 61-41 into the halftime break.
“I’m not worried about point production with this team because on any given night, every player on this team can score,” Tenorio said. “Today, we scored 135. I don’t remember us scoring 135. It just shows that capable kami as a team to score also.”
The Elasto Painters, meanwhile, were looking to close in on sealing a berth in the top four for a twice-to-beat edge when they were battling second-running NLEx at press time.
