With nothi8ng to gain, the Meralco Bolts decided to sat out most of their important players and allowed Magnolia Hotshots to extended its conference last 31 January, 129-92. The Hotshots will now arrange a playoff for No. 8 in the quarterfinals of the PBA 49th Season Commissioner’s Cup.
Ricardo Ratliffe had 31 points and 19 rebounds to set the stage for the rout at the Philsports Arena for the Hotshots against a Bolts squad that sat out Akil Mitchell for the second straight game, and practically had nothing to play for in the match-up in having already sealed the fifth-seed.
On the other hand, the Hotshots will fight for the last slot on 2 February at the Ynares Center against either NLEX or Rain or Shine if the Elasto Painters lose to TNT in the second game.
With the Magnolia win, the Tropang Giga have clinched the second-seed, as well as the last twice-to-beat advantage for the quarterfinals.
Meralco, on the other hand, closes the elimination round with a 7-5 win-loss record, and will now prepare for No. 4 Barangay Ginebra in the best-of-three quarterfinals.
Ratliffe already had 15 points in the first that saw the Hotshots lead by as many as 16 points in quarter. He anchored Magnolia outburst, 38-19, in the second period to romp to a 73-47 lead by the half.
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