The Magnolia Hotshos are in a do-or-die situation in Game 4 of the PBA Governors' Cup quarterfinals.
The Magnolia Hotshots are staring down elimination as they take on the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in Game 4 of their PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup quarterfinals series on October 1 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
In a precarious situation, the Hotshots need a win to force a deciding Game 5 and keep their title hopes alive.
After a commanding 52-point victory in Game 2, Magnolia struggled to replicate that dominance in Game 3, falling 111-106 in an emotion-packed overtime thriller.
[Related: Rain or Shine pulls through vs Magnolia in OT for Game 3 victory]
The Hotshots were down by as manyas 18 points but managed to rally behind the clutch play of Zavier Lucero, who poured in 24 points, including a crucial four-point play to send the game into overtime.
However, their comeback fell short, putting them in this do-or-die situation.
Import Jabari Bird has been a bright spot for Magnolia, delivering a strong performance with 31 points and 10 rebounds in Game 3.
Bird’s impact despite being a late import replacement has been critical for the Hotshots, and they will rely heavily on him once again in Game 4.
Magnolia will need to tap into the energy that fueled the team’s massive Game 2 win to push the series to a fifth game. Tip off for Game 4 will be at 5:00 p.m. live from the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
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[Editor's note: This article was generated by a member of the One Sports Digital team using AI, and then checked by the staff to ensure accuracy.]