Friday, July 18, 2008 Magnolia fight Coke for last semifinals spot
MANILA -All notes and records are set aside as odds are about even when Magnolia Beverage and Coca-Cola Tigers collide anew in the deciding game of the best-of-three quarterfinal round of the 2008 Smart-PBA Fiesta Conference at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo City.
The Tigers, who last won a title in the 2003 Reinforced Conference, leaned on rookie Ronjay Buenafe’s winning jumper in the last seven seconds to escape with a 91-90 win over the Beverage Masters and force a sudden death match for the right to face top team Air 21 Express in the best-of-seven semifinal round.
Magnolia won Game 1, 108-96, last Sunday.
The last time the Tigers won a best-of-three after losing the first game in the quarterfinals, they went on to win the championship and coach Benky Favis hopes the same experience will work again in their favor.
Both teams, which finished the elimination in a tie from third to fifth with similar 10-8 slate along with Ginebra, will dispute the remaining semifinal berth at 7 p.m.
As far as experience is concerned, Magnolia has the edge after winning its last Reinforced Conference crown in 2005, while Coca-Cola’s best finish so far in a Fiesta Conference was fourth in the inaugural staging in 2004.
Coca-Cola’s win in the second game of the short series also leveled all their four meetings in the conference at 2-2.
Both also split their two encounters in the elimination round with the Tigers winning the first, 106-92, last May 9, but Magnolia took the second with an 81-77 triumph on June 20.
Barangay Ginebra took advantage over the absence of import Lee Benson enroute to a 113-85 rout over Sta. Lucia Realty to reach the semis against Red Bull starting on Sunday at the Cuneta Astrodome. (FCC)
