EXPECT another all-out battle when top seed Magnolia and San Miguel Beer kick off their best-of-seven title series in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup on Friday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Game time is 7:30 p.m. with both the Hotshots and the Beermen brimming with confidence following ego-boosting semifinal victories over Phoenix Super LPG and defending champion Barangay Ginebra, respectively.

Last Wednesday, the Hotshots finished off the hard-fighting Fuel Masters, 89-79, to clinch their own semifinal encounter, three games to one, and arrange a titular showdown with the second-seeded Beermen.

Mark Barroca and import Tyler Bey teamed up for 41 points to lead the Hotshots to the series-clinching victory.

Barroca finished with 21 points on 8-of-13 shooting, five assists and four rebounds in almost 33 minutes of action, while Bey had a 20-20 performance with 20 points on 7-of-17 shooting, 20 rebounds, four assists and two steals in 45 minutes.

Ian Sangalang added 12 points and three rebounds for the Chito Victolero-mentored Hotshots.

Johnathan Williams led the Fuel Masters’ losing effort with a double-double performace of 17 points on 5-of-14 shooting on top of 17 rebounds, and five assists in 47 minutes of action for coach Jamike Jarin.

RR Garcia added 15 points, RJ Jazul contributed with 11 points, and Sean Manganti chipped in 10 points.

The scores:

Magnolia (89) — Barroca 21, Bey 20, Sangalang 12, Dionisio 8, Dela Rosa 7, Lee 6, Tratter 6, Jalalon 5, Laput 4, Reavis 0, Ahanmisi 0, Abueva 0.
Phoenix (79) — Williams 17, Garcia 15, Jazul 11, Manganti 10, Perkins 6, Alejandro 5, Tio 5, Muyang 4, Tuffin 3, Rivero 3, Soyud 0, Mocon 0, Verano 0, Camacho 0.
Quarterscores: 29-16, 49-38, 70-53, 89-79.

Game Friday:

(Mall of Asia Arena)
7:30 p.m. — San Miguel vs. Magnolia

AUTHOR PROFILE

Robert Andaya