gcash player PBA: Magnolia boosts chase for 8th seed with win over Phoenix

Peter Alfaro and the Magnolia Hotshots during a PBA Commissioner’s Cup game against Phoenix Fuel Masters. –PBA IMAGES

Magnolia stayed within distance of San Miguel Beer for the No. 8 spot after holding off a pesky Phoenix squad, 110-104, Thursday in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at Philsports Arena in Pasig City.

Import Ricardo Ratliffe, Zavier Lucero, Mark Barroca and seldom-used rookie Peter Alfaro were instrumental in giving the Hotshots a rare victory amid a difficult campaign for the perennial contenders.

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READ: PBA: Zavier Lucero embraces Magnolia’s tough bid for playoff spot

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The Hotshots improved to 4-6, moving to ninth spot behind the Beermen, who are carrying a 4-4 record and will make the playoffs if the eliminations end at this point.

Comments from top Federal Reserve officials suggesting they would like to see a slower pace of rate cuts tempered hopes for another bumper cut at the bank’s next meeting, while Middle East worries pushed gold to a new record.

But things will get tougher for Magnolia as its bid to sneak a quarters spot will depend on its games against guest team Hong Kong Eastern on Jan. 26 at Ynares Center in Antipolo City and Meralco on Jan. 31 at Philsports.

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Ratliffe had 22 points, 19 rebounds and two blocks in a performance witnessed by former teammate and Hotshots legend Marc Pingris and ex-South Korea standout and former Portland Trail Blazer Ha Seung-Jin.

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READ: PBA: Insults mean nothing to Magnolia side eager to shed ‘Introvoys’ tag

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Pingris dropped by wearing Ratliffe’s 2017 Star Hotshots jersey while Ha and his family are currently in the country for a vacation.

Lucero topscored with 25 points, including some key three-point shots that kept the Fuel Masters at bay while Alfaro turned into coach Chito Victolero’s “magic bunot” with 14 points, three rebounds and four assists.

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Barroca added 22 points, six rebounds and four assists in his 601st consecutive game for Magnolia.

Phoenix fell to 3-6 despite getting 40 points from import Donovan Smith, who also knocked four four-point shots.

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The Fuel Masters are now in desperation mode with the NLEX Road Warriors on Jan. 19gcash player, Blackwater Bossing on Jan. 21 and TNT Tropang Giga on Jan. 24 as their remaining assignments.

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