Magnolia def NLEX [PBA S49 Comm’s Cup | Feb. 2, 2025]

Magnolia secured a spot in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Last Eight with a commanding 112-81 victory over NLEX in a decisive do-or-die matchup on Sunday at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo.

The Hotshots took control after a tightly contested first half that ended in a 44-all deadlock, dazzling the Road Warriors with an explosive second-half performance. This victory propelled them into the quarterfinals, where they will challenge the formidable top seed, NorthPort, in a win-or-go-home scenario.

Playoff action kicks off in the mid-season tournament this Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, featuring a clash of mid-tier teams in a best-of-three series. Rain or Shine will face off against Converge at 5 p.m., followed by Barangay Ginebra taking on Meralco at 7:30 p.m.

The Hotshots now brace for a fifth consecutive do-or-die challenge as they go head-to-head with the Batang Pier at 5 p.m. on Thursday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. In another Thursday matchup, second-seeded TNT will look to seize the first of two opportunities to advance to the semifinals against seventh-seeded Eastern.

A remarkable turnaround saw Magnolia string together four straight wins after a sluggish start, finishing the tournament with a 3-6 record. The resurgence was spearheaded by the dynamic play of Ricardo Ratliffe, who delivered an impressive 32 points and 14 rebounds.

Ratliffe epitomized the sheer tenacity of the Hotshots, with invaluable support from Zav Lucero, Ian Sangalang, Rome dela Rosa, and Mark Barroca, who each contributed at least 11 points. This victory extended Magnolia’s remarkable streak to 19 consecutive playoff appearances.

Defensively, Ratliffe was a force to be reckoned with, effectively limiting NLEX’s Mike Watkins to just 10 points in a high-pressure game. For the Road Warriors, Robert Bolick led the scoring effort with 27 points, but their attempt to overcome a similar 3-6 deficit ultimately fell short.