Despite playing in pain, Nicholas Rakocevic pushed through to deliver big in the second half as Magnolia Timplados Hotshots triumph over the Converge FiberXers, 109–105, in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Saturday, 1 October.
Riddled with a hip injury, Rakocevic only had five points in the first half but caught fire in the second half as he pumped in 16 markers and finished with 24 rebounds.
The American-Serbian got plenty of help from the Magnolia mainstays, as the Hotshots notched their second straight win in the import-laced tournament.
Paul Lee contributed 20 markers, Mark Barroca chipped in 19, Jio Jalalon added 15, and Ian Sangalang and Calvin Abueva had 10 apiece.
The Hotshots outscored the FiberXers, 38-15, in the fourth period, allowing Magnolia to climb back from a 13-point deficit entering the final 12 minutes.
The scores:
Magnolia Timplados (109) — Rakocevic 21, Lee 20, Barroca 19, Jalalon 15, Sangalang 10, Abueva 10, Dionisio 8, Wong 2. Corpuz 2, Dela Rosa 0.
Converge (105) — Miller 38, Arana 14, Ilagan 12, Teng 11, Ahanmisi 9, Tratter 8, Murrell 6, Stockton 5, Melecio 2, Ambohot 0, Hill 0, Racal 0.
Quarterscores: 24-24; 40-50; 71-84; 109-105.
