PBA Commissioner’s Cup semis January 28


Mall of Asia Arena

3 p.m. Magnolia Hotshots vs Phoenix Fuel Masters
6:30 p.m. San Miguel Beermen vs Ginebra Gin Kings

PBA semis Game 3: Phoenix Fuel Masters vs Magnolia Hotshots

PBA Magnolia Phoenix

Tyler Bay (with ball) will help provide the spark in the Hotshots’ bid to shut-out the Fuel Masters. —MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Magnolia feels the manner of how it won the first two games of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals is no reason for the Hotshots to feel that sweeping Phoenix is going to be moot and academic.

“I think we will see a different Phoenix team this time,” Paul Lee said after the Hotshots moved on the cusp of a Finals berth after recovering in the final frame to pull out an 82-78 win on Friday at SM Mall of Asia Arena.

Their bid to put away the Fuel Masters starts at 3 p.m. on Sunday at the same venue as they aim to get back to the big league’s grandest stage for the first time since the 2021 Philippine Cup.

PBA semis San Miguel Ginebra Chris Ross

Chris Ross ) and the rest of the Beermen guard against complacency. —AUGUST DELA CRUZ

San Miguel reached for the door of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup championship series on Friday night following its 106-96 dismantling of Barangay Ginebra in Game 2 of the semifinals.

The Beermen will have a chance to turn the knob this Sunday, but skipper Chris Ross has been playing the game long enough to know that doing so is easier said than done.

“We know firsthand how it is to be on that side,” he told the Inquirer while shaking his head.



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