Magnolia Hotshots continued their 2024 PBA Governors’ Cup campaign by defeating Rain or Shine 129-100 on Tuesday at Ninoy Aquino Stadium to force a game to be played to the finish.

In Game Four, Jabari Bird and Paul Lee gave the Hotshots the resounding victory they needed to stay in the playoffs and play another day.

Despite the absence of Zavier Lucero, a key player in the Hotshots’ Game Three defeat, Magnolia managed to close the gap and take an 11-2 lead early in the game.

At the Ynares Center in Antipolo City on Saturday, the fifth and final game of the quarterfinal series will take place.

Although Bird scored as usual, Lee’s 15 points in the third quarter allowed the Hotshots to take a decisive lead.

The Hotshots were coming off a heartbreaking Game Three defeat in which head coach Chito Victolero accused the officials of being too harsh when they failed to see a crucial goaltending infraction in the closing minutes, costing them the game.

The Hotshots contributed to the lead that was never in danger, even in the second half, with a 36–18 run in the second quarter.

Rain or Shine really led the game 8-0 in the beginning but lost it in the second quarter. Aaron Fuller led Rain or Shine with 22 points and 10 rebounds, while Jhonard Clarito scored 15 points.

The Scores

Magnolia 129 – Bird 30, Lee 25, Ahanmisi 14, Barroca 10, Sangalang 10, Abueva 9, Dela Rosa 9, Dionisio 9, Mendoza 8, Eriobu 5, Laput 0.

Rain or Shine 100 – Fuller 22, Clarito 15, Nocum 11, Belga 11, Caracut 11, Mamuyac 10, Asistio 5, Santillan 4, Tiongson 4, Ildefonso 4, Datu 2, Lemetti 1, Norwood 0.

Quarter scores: 26-26; 62-44; 99-79; 129-100.

Meanwhile, two referees who officiated Game Three of Converge and San Miguel’s Governors’ Cup quarter final series have been suspended by the PBA.

Referees Peter Balao and Joel Baldago will miss one to two rotations due to their handling of an incident late in the first quarter involving an elbow strike by Converge’s Alec Stockton on Kris Rosales of San Miguel, according to PBA commissioner Willie Marcial.

After a review, Stockton’s initial flagrant foul penalty of two was reduced to a flagrant foul penalty of one, allowing the FiberXers player to remain in the game rather than being immediately removed.

Later, Stockton made the game-winning basket as Converge defeated San Miguel, 114–111, capping their comeback from a 27-point deficit.

Three officials have already been suspended by the league for the playoffs alone.

In addition, Rey Yante was suspended for the remainder of the conference for failing to call a goal against Jhonard Clarito in Rain or Shine and Magnolia’s third-round quarterfinal game.