MANILA, Philippines – Ricardo Ratliffe was back like he never left for the Magnolia Hotshots.
In his first game back in the PBA since 2017, Ratliffe returned with a bang as Magnolia got off to a sizzling start in the Commissioner’s Cup with a 118-100 rout of the Blackwater Bossing at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Thursday, November 28.
The hulking 6-foot-8 Ratliffe repaid Magnolia head coach Chito Victolero’s trust of bringing him back as the Hotshots import and recorded a monster double-double of 30 points and 18 rebounds, to go with 5 assists and 2 blocks, while shooting an ultra-efficient 11-of-13 clip from the field.
“I’m just super grateful that he [Chito Victolero] still considered me as an import,” said Ratliffe.
“Not young as I used to be, I’m 35 now, and for him to still believe in me, believe in the way I take care of my body, and still give me a chance to come out here and help this team get some wins, I’m just truly grateful for that.”
“I know the better I am, the better the team will be, so I just go out there every day, make sure I take care of my body, rest well, and give it everything I got on the court,” added the naturalized Korean player Ratliffe, who is also known as Ra Gun-ah.
After putting up only 8 points in the first half, Ratliffe asserted his dominance in the third quarter and scattered 15 of his 30 points to help Magnolia stretch a 50-41 halftime lead into an 82-69 cushion heading into the fourth.
With Magnolia already ahead by 20 points, 89-69, in the early goings of the final frame, Blackwater got back to within just nine, 96-87, before Ratliffe converted on an and-one play at the 7:13 mark of the quarter to put the Hotshots back by double figures, which they managed to keep until the final buzzer.
Jerrick Ahanmisi supported Ratliffe with 21 points, while Mark Barroca and Zavier Lucero added 15 and 13, respectively.
Former Adamson star Jerom Lastimosa – who was selected as the ninth pick in the 2024 PBA Draft – made his much-awaited debut for Magnolia after recovering from an ACL injury and immediately showcased his wares as he produced 9 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block in close to 25 minutes.
The Hotshots overcame the absence of Calvin Abueva in the second half after the energetic forward got rushed to the hospital following an accidental hit from Blackwater’s Sedrick Barefield at the 7:19 mark of the second period.
Blackwater’s high-scoring import George King sizzled for a game-high 42 points, but was held to a lowly 16-of-36 field goal clip, while Barefield fired 24 markers in the losing cause.
Meanwhile, the NorthPort Batang Pier fought their way back from an early double-digit disadvantage and rolled past the NLEX Road Warriors the rest of the way for a 114-87 blowout in the curtain-raiser.
NorthPort star Arvin Tolentino picked up where he left off last conference as he exploded for 29 points to lead the Batang Pier to a 1-0 start in the Commissioner’s Cup.
Import Kadeem Jack backed up Tolentino with 25 points, while Allyn Bulanadi and Joshua Munzon poured in 14 and 12, respectively.
After trailing by as many as 16 points in the first quarter, 9-25, Tolentino and the Batang Pier got it going in the second frame and outscored the Road Warriors, 35-12, for their own version of a double-digit advantage at halftime, 56-41.
Tolentino dropped 15 of his 29 points in their massive second-quarter fightback, outplaying the whole NLEX squad in those 12 minutes.
Import Mike Watkins led the Road Warriors in their sorry loss with a double-double of 29 points and 19 rebounds as their main gunner Robert Bolick had a forgettable conference opener, scoring only 3 points on a horrific 1-of-11 field goal clip.
First Game
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 Game
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
