By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
The Magnolia Hotshots Chicken Timplados ended their PBA Governor’s Cup eliminations on a three-game winning streak after crushing the Blackwater Bossing, 110-95, last March 8, 2023.
Magnolia wasted no time buckling to work and immediately scored 15 points in just five minutes to end the opening quarter with a 32-20 lead.
Blackwater kicked off the second period with a more patient offense alongside adjustments in the defensive end that helped them claw their way back, 32-29, keeping the Chicken Timplados scoreless in the first four minutes.
Despite Antonio Hester’s dominance in the paint, Blackwater was able to stay the course courtesy of their three-point shooting and only trailed by three points heading into the second half, 48-45.
Just when the Bossing thought they could keep with Magnolia’s firepower, the Chicken Timplados then went on a fiery 39-21 run in the third quarter that ballooned the lead back to double digits.
Calvin Abueva spearheaded Magnolia’s insane third-quarter rally after a series of coast-to-coast drives and pull-up shots from downtown.
The superstar small forward then capped off his majestic outing by entering the PBA’s 5k-scoring club and ended the contest with a monster double-double of 27 points built from 10/21 shooting from the field and 13 rebounds.
Blackwater attempted to salvage one last run after heating up midway through the last canto but Magnolia countered with a clutch offensive snowball in the last four minutes of the game.
Hester put up another efficient performance for the Hotshots and finished the lopsided game with 22 points and 20 boards.
“At least kung anuman ang ibigay sa amin sa playoffs, at least we have a chance because at the start of the conference were down 0-3 right away. And most of the people were doubting baka hindi kami umabot sa playoffs. But at least in the last eight games, were 7-1,” said Magnolia’s head coach Chito Victolero.
Magnolia ended the elimination phase with a 7-4 win-loss record and is now bound for another post-season qualification.
