THE Magnolia Hotshots and import Ricardo Ratliffe marked their reunion with a triumphant start in the PBA Commissioner's Cup, blasting the Blackwater Bossing, 118-100, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium Thursday.
Ratliffe and his local teammates complemented one another as they overwhelmed a Blackwater side despite a 42-point job from Bossing import George King.
At 35, Ratliffe still proved to be a force to reckon with, helping the Hotshots to a conference debut win, coming from a tough loss in a semis decider versus Rain or Shine last conference.
Maverick Ahanmisi, Mark Barroca, Zavier Lucero, Paul Lee and debuting rookie Jerom Lastimosa did their part as the Hotshots slowly pulled away, played tough amidst Blackwater's repeated comeback attempt and pulled off a "W" ahead of their showdown with the Converge FiberXers Sunday.
Bunched together in Group A in the Governors' Cup elims, Converge (6-4) finished a full game ahead of Magnolia (5-5) then. But both failed to make it past the quarterfinals.
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Ratliffe produced 30 points, 18 rebounds and five assists to start another PBA tour of duty in a game that saw Calvin Abueva rushed to the hospital due to a neck injury from an accidental elbow from Sedrick Barefield at the 7:19 mark of the second quarter.
But there's no stopping the Hotshots from pulling away to a 21-point lead in the third at 77-56.
King exploded for 10 straight points to rally Blackwater to within 11. Then the Bossing trimmed the gap even more at 87-96 on long bombs by King and Barefield early in the fourth.
But the Hotshots pushed the right buttons from a timeout, unleashing a nine-to-nothing run to settle the outcome of the game.
With his outside sniping, Ahanmisi led the Magnolia locals with 21 as Barroca added 15, Lucero 13, and Lee and Lastimosa with nine apiece.
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Backing up King for Blackwater was Barefield with 24.(SB)
The Scores :
MAGNOLIA 118 - Ratliffe 30, Ahanmisi 21, Barroca 15, Lucero 13, Lastimosa 9, Lee 9, Dela Rosa 8, Dionisio 6, Sangalang 3, Abueva 2, Balanza 2, Laput 0, Eriobu 0, Mendoza 0
BLACKWATER 100 - King 42, Barefield 24, David 8, Chua 6, Tungcab 4, Kwekuteye 3, Ponferrada 3, Hill 3, Guinto 2, Corteza 2, Montalbo 2, Suerte 1, Ilagan 0, Escoto 0, Jopia 0
QUARTERS : 29-27, 50-41, 82-69, 118-100
