2008-07-19 10:30:59 -
Magnolia limited Coca-Cola to its second all-time low output to post 78-60 win in a do-or-die Game 3 on Friday night and clinched the last semifinals seat of the PBA Fiesta Cup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
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Magnolia clinches last semis seat of PBA Fiesta Cup
With the victory that avenged their 90-91 loss in Game Two, the Beverage Masters will face Air21 Express in a best-of-seven semifinals series which kicks off Sunday at the Cuneta Astrodome.
The Beverage Masters leaned on import Amal McCaskill who dominated the paint with 18 points, 19 rebounds and
four assists.
Dondon Hontiveros and Lordy Tugade spearheaded the locals with 14 points each.
The loss put to waste rookie Ronjay Buenafe's game-long brilliance as he ended up with 22 points, including 13-out-of-15 freethrow shooting.
Meanwhile, Air21 headcoach Bo Perasol said his import Steve Thomas may likely miss the Game One on Sunday.
'The return of our import from the US will be delayed because he attended a summer camp of the Cleveland Cavaliers right after he joined a separate basketball camp where Korean teams get their import,' Perasol said during Friday's SCOOP session at the Kamayan restaurant along Padre Faura.
Perasol admitted his team needs major adjustment due to the absence of Thomas in the series opener plus a two-week layoff.
'That's the dilemma we are facing right now,' said Perasol whose wards earned outright semifinals seat for the first time after topping the double-round elimination.
In other best-of-seven affair, other outright semifinalist Red Bull faces crowd-darling Barangay Ginebra which swept Sta. Lucia Realty in the other best-of-three quarterfinals series.
The scores:
Magnolia (78) - McCaskill 18, Tugade 14, Hontiveros 14, Cortez 9, Pingris 6, Ildefonso 6, Racela 5, Pena 3, Bono 2, Gonzales 1, Villanueva 0, Tolomia 0.
Coke (60) - Buenafe 22, Dixon 16, Taulava 9, Belasco 4, Macapagal 3, Dean 2, Cabagnot 2, Telan 2, Catli 0, Dimaunahan 0.
Quarters: 15-12, 29-25, 52-41, 78-60.
(Balita Pinoy - Philippine News & Analysis)
