MAGNOLIA braced for its Christmas Day Manila Classico duel with Barangay Ginebra with a 99-95 overtime win over NLEX in the PBA Commissioner's Cup at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig Friday.
The Hotshot failed to finish off the Road Warriors in regulation but fought on in extra time and pulled through to end a four-game losing skein.
Mark Barroca drilled in the go-ahead basket with 38 seconds to go then Jerom Lastimosa and Ricardo Ratliffe combined for three charities to seal the win that jacked up Magnolia's record to 2-4 while stalling NLEX at 3-4.
Robert Bolick and Rob Herndon took an attempt to force a second OT from the extended rainbow line but both missed, and thus the Road Warriors dropped below the .500 mark with a third straight defeat.
They're now to take a long breather, returning to play only on Jan. 10 in a face-off with the Meralco Bolts over at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
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The Hotshots, meanwhile, will now have a momentum to ride on as they tangle with the Gin Kings in the last PBA game in 2024 on Christmas Day at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Meralco Bolts and the Converge FiberXers duke it out in the 5 p.m. curtain-raiser.
Barroca bungled Magnolia's last crack at winning the game in regulation but the Hotshots quickly took control with a 5-0 opening binge by Calvin Abueva, Lastimosa and Zavier Lucero in extra time.
The Road Warriors seized the upperhand for the last time at 95-94 on a 7-2 salvo highlighted by the once-unheard-of five-point play from Robert Bolick.
However, the Hotshots pursued their bid, with Barroca pushing Magnolia back in the lead at 96-95.
To cap the game, Lastimosa and Ratliffe fired three charities and the Hotshots held the Road Warriors blank in the last 38 seconds of play.
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Ratliffe turned in 38 points and 19 rebounds in his biggest game in the tourney thus far, leading Magnolia past NLEX with support from Lucero (14 points), Lastimosa (13) and Barroca (12).
Bolick scattered 28 points with Herndon chipping in 18, Mike Watkins 17 and Kevin Alas 11 for the Road Warriors.(SB)
The scores:
Magnolia 99 - Ratliffe 38, Lucero 14, Lastimosa 13, Barroca 12, Balanza 6, Abueva 6, Mendoza 3, Dionisio 3, Dela Rosa 2, Sangalang 2, Laput 0, Ahanmisi 0.
NLEX 95 - Bolick 28, Herndon 18, Watkins 17, Alas 11, Torres 8, Mocon 6, Semerad 5, Policarpio 2, Nieto 0, Rodger 0, Marcelo 0, Valdez 0.
Quarterscores: 21-22, 38-45, 64-63, 87-87, 99-95
