Chapman Leads Hotshots to Escape, Set Do-or-Die vs Bolts

Clint Chapman came up big when Magnolia needed him most, powering the Hotshots to a 95-89 win over Meralco and forcing a sudden-death showdown in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals on Wednesday night.

The Magnolia import tallied 21 points and 12 rebounds, but his clutch three-pointer with 2:37 remaining proved decisive. After Meralco erased a 19-point deficit and briefly took the lead, Chapman’s go-ahead triple put Magnolia up 87-84, swinging momentum firmly back to the Hotshots.

Magnolia’s local players stepped up in the final minutes, as Zav Lucero, Jerom Lastimosa, and Paul Lee combined for key baskets that sealed the victory and kept the Hotshots’ conference hopes alive.

The win marked Magnolia’s fourth straight, including games from the elimination round, as head coach LA Tenorio’s squad carried a late-season surge into the playoffs. Magnolia now heads into Saturday’s winner-take-all matchup at Ynares Center Antipolo with momentum on its side.

Tenorio lauded his players for matching a seasoned Meralco squad, known for its playoff discipline, intensity, and veteran leadership, in a high-pressure game.

Jerom Lastimosa led Magnolia’s locals with 17 points, while Rome dela Rosa added 11. Ian Sangalang contributed 10 points and battled effectively inside against Meralco import Marvin Jones. Jones, meanwhile, struggled again, finishing with just 16 points on 3-of-15 shooting.

Meralco got a strong performance from Chris Newsome, who scored 23 points, including 11 in the fourth quarter as the Bolts staged their comeback. Newsome’s basket with 3:26 remaining gave Meralco an 84-83 lead before Lastimosa tied the game, setting the stage for Chapman’s game-winning triple. Bong Quinto added 10 points for the fourth-seeded Bolts, who now look to regroup ahead of a crucial return trip to the semifinals.