Alex Cabagnot, playing his first game inside the semi-bubble, scored on a difficult jumper with one second left to lift San Miguel Beer to a pulsating 88-87 win over Northport at the start of the PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinals at the Don Honorio Ventura State University (DHVSU) gym in Bacolor, Pampanga Sunday.
The Beermen’s dramatic victory followed Magnolia’s workmanlike 81-70 win over Rain or Shine in the first game.
The Batang Pier kept the game close despite starting the final quarter five points down, 65-60.
Before Cabagnot’s heroics, Robert Bolick buried a long three-point shot from downtown to give Northport an 87-86 lead with five seconds left.
But Cabagnot, fully recovered from a knee injury, won’t be denied and came through with the winning basket.
Magnolia outscored Rain or Shine, 23-8, in the third quarter to set up the victory.
The Hotshots drew 20 points from Paul Lee and a double-double performance of 19 points and 13 rebounds from Ian Sangalang to move to within a win of reaching the semifinals.
Alex Cabagnot, playing his first game inside the semi-bubble, scored on a difficult jumper with one second left to lift San Miguel Beer to a pulsating 88-87 win over Northport at the start of the PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinals at the Don Honorio Ventura State University (DHVSU) gym in Bacolor, Pampanga Sunday.
The Beermen’s dramatic victory followed Magnolia’s workmanlike 81-70 win over Rain or Shine in the first game.
The Batang Pier kept the game close despite starting the final quarter five points down, 65-60.
Before Cabagnot’s heroics, Robert Bolick buried a long three-point shot from downtown to give Northport an 87-86 lead with five seconds left.
But Cabagnot, fully recovered from a knee injury, won’t be denied and came through with the winning basket.
Magnolia outscored Rain or Shine, 23-8, in the third quarter to set up the victory.
The Hotshots drew 20 points from Paul Lee and a double-double performance of 19 points and 13 rebounds from Ian Sangalang to move to within a win of reaching the semifinals.
Defense-minded Jio Jalalon and Rome de la Rosa also finished with 10 markers apiece.
“We really prepared for this one. This is a defensive battle and we had that mental toughness and readiness for any physical game,” Magnolia coach Chito Victolero said.
“It’s very important to get Game 1 because it will give you the momentum in any series.”
The Elasto Painters took the half, 42-37, but were limited to just 10 points as the Hotshots grabbed the lead, 60-52, entering the final period.
Rookie Leonard Santillan hit back-to-back triples to put the E-Painters to within four, 64-60, with 9:08 left.
Rain or Shine did not come any closer as Lee powered the Hotshots to a 76-66 lead with 1:10 remaining.
Santillan led ROS with 17 points and 12 rebounds while Rey Nambatac added 16 points and two assists.
Meanwhile, Calvin Abueva, Robert Bolick and Mikey Williams are the leading candidates in the Best Player of the Conference award.
The three cagers are now leading the league in statistical points after the end of a grueling All-Filipino elimination round being held inside a semi-bubble concept in Bacolor, Pampanga.
The 33-year old Abueva, who helped Magnolia reach the third seed with an 8-3 record, leads the statistical race with 35.36 average followed by TNT rookie Williams with 35.30.
Bolick is at third with 35.27.
Rounding out the top 10 are Northport rookie Jamie Malonzo (31.5), Magnolia’s Ian Sangalang (31.3), San Miguel Beer’sr CJ Perez (30.7), Rain or Shine’s Javee Mocon (31.1), San Miguel’s Arwind Santos (29.6), Phoenix’s Jayson Perkins (29.4) and Barangay Ginebra’s Scottie Thompson (29.4).