Sunday, June 30, 2008 Magnolia escapes Alaska, 80-79
MANILA - The Magnolia Beverage Masters leaned on Mike Cortez’s split charities in the last 0.3 seconds to escape a pulsating 80-79 win over defending champion Alaska Aces yesterday in the 2008 Smart-PBA Fiesta Conference at the Araneta Coliseum.
Cortez’s lucky charity off a 6th foul by import Randy Holcomb at least kept Magnolia’s hope of a playoff for the second outright semifinal slot alive.
But it is not yet enough to completely end the Aces’ hope as they can still forge a possible triple tie for second if they win their last game against Barangay Ginebra on July 6 and if Red Bull loses its last two matches in the eliminations.
Magnolia completed its elimination round assignments with a 10-8 slate, while solo leader Air 21, which was idle yesterday, benefited from it by claiming the first outright semis berth with an 11-6 card as no other team can reach 11 wins in the elims.
This will be the first time the Express made it to the round-of-four since joining the league in 2002.
The 6-foot-8 Holcomb scored on a reverse drive despite the tight defense of Marc Pingres and 6-foot-9 import Aaron MacCaskil to tie the game at 79 but in the return play MacCaskill, who was crowded inside the paint passed the ball to Cortez who made the daring drive before getting fouled.
Cortez topscored for Magnolia with 18 points, while MacCaskill settled for 15 and Dondon Hontiveros and Danny Seigle each had 11.
Tony de la Cruz led Alaska with 19 points, LA Tenorio and Holcomb contributed 15 apiece and Wellie Miller added nine.
Danny Seigle started strong for the Beverage Masters firing eight points in the first quarter to carve a two-point lead, 18-16, but Alaska’s defense prevented them from pulling ahead.
Aside from Seigle, Cortez kept Magnolia on top with back-to-back baskets capped by a triple to stretch the gap to six points, 31-25, still 5:24 remaining in the second period. (FCC)
