Magnolia gets even with Harbour Centre

Magnolia Purewater, drawing inspired performance from Neil Raneses, stopped five-peat champion Harbour Centre, 84-80, yesterday to level their 2009 PBL PG Flex Linoleum Cup best-of-five title showdown at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.

Raneses, held to just two free throws in the team’s 71-84 loss in the series opener last Tuesday, powered his way to 25 points this time, capping his game-long brilliance with five rebounds, three shot blocks, two assists and the same number of steals.

“Nothing special, we just shortened the series. We need to focus on Game Three and forget about what happened today (yesterday),” said Magnolia coach Koy Banal, seeking to end a three-year title drought for the San Miguel Corp. franchise.

The pivotal Game Three is set at 2 p.m. tomorrow, also at the Ynares cage center.

Eder Saldua also came away with 17 points he spiked with three triples as Magnolia proved it could match Harbour’s firepower and defensive hustle.

“Our defense and our experience in the semifinals taught us to play this tough,” said Banal, whose wards had to nip the Bacchus Energy Drink side in five games to gain a crack at the championship.

Shackled in Game One, Raneses imposed his will this time, making 10 points, two rebounds, two blocks, an assist and a steal in the first half.

Dylan Ababou tossed in eight points for Magnolia but the UST standout sustained an injury after he was hit by a wayward hand by Harbour’s PJ Barua early in the third quarter.

“We’ll have him (Ababou) checked, we’ll see what happens,” said Banal.

The two teams fought to 13 lead changes and six deadlocks in the first half with Harbour barely gaining a 41-40 edge at the break.

But the Wizards, with Saldua on the firing end, seized control at resumption of the contest, outscoring their rivals, 21-13, before hanging tough in the fourth quarter.

Jerwin Gaco and Reed Juntilla combined for 30 points for Harbour while Mark Barroca managed to chip in 11 points after exploding for 37 points in leading Smart Gilas RP Team to a 95-95 standoff with Burger King, formerly Air21, Wednesday night at the Big Dome.