Magnolia eliminates TNT to enter PBA Comm’s Cup semis
MANILA – Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots secured a seat in the 20232024 PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals after booting out TNT Tropang Giga in the quarterfinals, 109- 94, on Wednesday night at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.
Tyler Bey finished with a double- double of 41 points and 13 rebounds, to go with five steals, three blocks, and two assists as the Hotshots became the first team to reach the semifinals round.
Andy Mark Barroca added 17 markers, Ian Sangalang had 12 points and eight rebounds, while Calvin Abueva contributed 12 points, with eight coming in the second quarter, for Magnolia.
The Hotshots needed to only win once to reach the semifinals round as they hold a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals round for finishing the eliminations as the no. 1 seed team.
The Hotshots will battle the winner of the Meralco Bolts- Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters knockout quarterfinals game in the best-of-five semifinals round beginning next week.
Down by double- digits midway through the second quarter, the Hotshots relied on the exploits of Abueva, Barroca, and Jiovani Jalalon as they turned things around to take a 50-44 halftime lead.
The Hotshots maintained a 62-56 lead early in the third quarter, but the Tropang Giga responded with their own run to snatch the lead at 69-68 on back-to-back three pointers by Roger Pogoy.
The Hotshots quickly responded with a basket from Barroca, two free throws and a triple from Bey and an inside conversion from Sangalang to take a 77-69 lead entering the