Phoenix not giving up
Phoenix is two wins away from making it to the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals but while the pathway is clear, it’s far from smooth sailing. Magnolia has a virtual twice-to-beat advantage entering Game 4 of the semifinals at the MOA Arena tonight. That’s a huge cushion, considering how close the series has been. It means Phoenix has now to beat Magnolia two in a row to advance. Counting the Super LPG Fuel Master’s win in Game 3 last Sunday, Magnolia will need to go down thrice overall for Phoenix to book its first-ever Finals appearance.
Magnolia hasn’t lost two consecutive games at all this conference and Phoenix hopes to burst that bubble. The Chicken
Timplados Hotshots finished the elims at the top of the roost with a 9-2 record, bowing only to Rain or Shine by three and Meralco by five. The 103-85 loss to Phoenix in Game 3 was its worst, sparking talk that Magnolia might have peaked too soon. But coach Chito Victolero isn’t buying that storyline. Calvin Abueva shrugged off the setback as an aberration and promised that in Game 4, the Hotshots will get the job done.
The news from Phoenix’ lockerroom is import Johnathan Williams isn’t 100 percent. There is some inflammation in his left knee due to tendonitis and Williams is soldiering on like a wounded tiger. He didn’t start in Game 1 and finished with a conference-low 11 points. Williams rebounded with 27 points, 16 rebounds and five assists in Game 2 but his showing wasn’t enough to repulse Magnolia. Games 1 and 2 could’ve gone either way. Phoenix had its chances but couldn’t put Magnolia away.
The Fuel Masters aren’t as experienced as the Hotshots. Their average age is 27.1 years with only four players at least 30 – RJ Jazul, 37; RR Garcia, 34; Raul Soyud, 33 and Jason Perkins, 31. In contrast, Magnolia’s average age is 31.6 years with 11 players at least 30, led by Rafi Reavis who’s 46 and Mark Barroca who’s 37. Magnolia hasn’t won a title since the 2018 Governors’ Cup and Victolero is hankering for a second crown. But there’s no hungrier team than Phoenix which didn’t even make it to the semifinals of any conference last season. Since joining the PBA in the 2016 Commissioner’s Cup, Phoenix has advanced to only three semifinals in 18 conferences, including the current Commissioner’s Cup. In the two previous semifinals where Phoenix saw action, the
Fuel Masters lost to San Miguel Beer, 4-1, in the 2019 Philippine Cup and TNT, 3-2, in the 2020 Philippine Cup. A Finals appearance remains an elusive dream for Phoenix.
Last Sunday, Phoenix made an incredible comeback from 21 down in the second quarter to win by 18. Coach Jamike Jarin pulled a rabbit from his hat and started Jazul for the first time this conference. Jazul delivered 17 points and was one of five locals in double figures. Jarin knew the only way to beat Magnolia was through a collective effort on both ends with a hobbled Williams. The Hotshots shot 51 points in the first half and only 34 in the second while the Fuel Masters scored 38 at the turn and 65 in the last two quarters. Tonight, Phoenix will try to survive another do-or-die encounter for a chance to force a winner-take-all showdown on Friday. Magnolia will go all out to finish off Phoenix and avoid a dangerous predicament in a possible Game 5.