MANILA, Philippines – Ricardo Ratliffe was again like he by no means left for the Magnolia Hotshots.
In his first sport again within the PBA since 2017, Ratliffe returned with a bang as Magnolia received off to a scorching begin within the Commissioner’s Cup with a 118-100 rout of the Blackwater Bossing on the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Thursday, November 28.
The hulking 6-foot-8 Ratliffe repaid Magnolia head coach Chito Victolero’s belief of bringing him again because the Hotshots import and recorded a monster double-double of 30 factors and 18 rebounds, to go along with 5 assists and a pair of blocks, whereas taking pictures an ultra-efficient 11-of-13 clip from the sphere.
“I’m simply tremendous grateful that he [Chito Victolero] nonetheless thought of me as an import,” stated Ratliffe.
“Not younger as I was, I’m 35 now, and for him to nonetheless consider in me, consider in the way in which I deal with my physique, and nonetheless give me an opportunity to come back out right here and assist this staff get some wins, I’m simply really grateful for that.”
“I do know the higher I’m, the higher the staff shall be, so I simply go on the market day by day, be certain that I deal with my physique, relaxation effectively, and provides it every part I received on the courtroom,” added the naturalized Korean participant Ratliffe, who’s also called Ra Gun-ah.
After placing up solely 8 factors within the first half, Ratliffe asserted his dominance within the third quarter and scattered 15 of his 30 factors to assist Magnolia stretch a 50-41 halftime lead into an 82-69 cushion heading into the fourth.
With Magnolia already forward by 20 factors, 89-69, within the early goings of the ultimate body, Blackwater received again to inside simply 9, 96-87, earlier than Ratliffe transformed on an and-one play on the 7:13 mark of the quarter to place the Hotshots again by double figures, which they managed to maintain till the ultimate buzzer.
Jerrick Ahanmisi supported Ratliffe with 21 factors, whereas Mark Barroca and Zavier Lucero added 15 and 13, respectively.
Former Adamson star Jerom Lastimosa – who was chosen because the ninth choose within the 2024 PBA Draft – made his much-awaited debut for Magnolia after recovering from an ACL damage and instantly showcased his wares as he produced 9 factors, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block in near 25 minutes.
The Hotshots overcame the absence of Calvin Abueva within the second half after the energetic ahead received rushed to the hospital following an unintentional hit from Blackwater’s Sedrick Barefield on the 7:19 mark of the second interval.
Blackwater’s high-scoring import George King sizzled for a game-high 42 factors, however was held to a lowly 16-of-36 area purpose clip, whereas Barefield fired 24 markers within the shedding trigger.
NorthPort pummels NLEX
In the meantime, the NorthPort Batang Pier fought their method again from an early double-digit drawback and rolled previous the NLEX Street Warriors the remainder of the way in which for a 114-87 blowout within the curtain-raiser.
NorthPort star Arvin Tolentino picked up the place he left off final convention as he exploded for 29 factors to guide the Batang Pier to a 1-0 begin within the Commissioner’s Cup.
Import Kadeem Jack backed up Tolentino with 25 factors, whereas Allyn Bulanadi and Joshua Munzon poured in 14 and 12, respectively.
After trailing by as many as 16 factors within the first quarter, 9-25, Tolentino and the Batang Pier received it going within the second body and outscored the Street Warriors, 35-12, for their very own model of a double-digit benefit at halftime, 56-41.
Tolentino dropped 15 of his 29 factors of their huge second-quarter fightback, outplaying the entire NLEX squad in these 12 minutes.
Import Mike Watkins led the Street Warriors of their sorry loss with a double-double of 29 factors and 19 rebounds as their major gunner Robert Bolick had a forgettable convention opener, scoring solely 3 factors on a horrific 1-of-11 area purpose clip.
The Scores
First Recreation
NorthPort 114 – Tolentino 29, Jack 25, Bulanadi 14, Munzon 12, Yu 8, Navarro 7, Miranda 5, Onwubere 4, Cuntapay 4, Taha 2, Flores 2, Tratter 2, Nelle 0.
NLEX 87 – Watkins 29, Rodger 11, Mocon 10, Semerad 10, Amer 6, Torres 6, Bolick 3, Nieto 3, Nermal 3, Policarpio 2, Valdez 2, Herndon 2, Marcelo 0, Fajardo 0.
Quarters: 21-29, 56-41, 91-67, 114-87.
Second Recreation
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, Ponferada 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.
– Rappler.com
