MAGNOLIA leaned on the second half explosion of Paul Lee to end Barangay Ginebra's PBA Philippine Cup title bid with a 85-72 win Wednesday night in their sudden-death encounter at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Lee hit 13 of his game-high 25 points in a searing third quarter in which the Hotshots outscored the Kings, 28-13. His two three-pointers highlighted that game-changing run that allowed Magnolia to finally take control.

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo

THE NLEX Road Warriors and Northport Batang Pier go for a complication-free passage into the quarterfinals of the PBA Philippine with a victory in their respect games today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

SAN Miguel Beer's historic quest remains alive, thanks largely to a performance for the books by June Mar Fajardo.

Fajardo notched game-highs of 32 points and 14 rebounds in leading the Beermen's charge to a cruising 96-86 victory over the TNT KaTropa Wednesday and into the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Meralco plays its last game in the elims, hoping it won't be the last in the tourney.

The Bolts, however, must hurdle a tough obstacle in the Barangay Ginebra Kings for a shot at a possible playoff crack at the eighth and last berth in the PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinals.

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo

THE quarterfinal phase of the PBA Philippine Cup concludes today with a pair of rubber matches to determine the last two cast members in the semifinals of the season-opening Philippine Basketball Association tournament.

The Philippine Basketball Association will have special treats to its fans for the entire month of April, offering discounted tickets and giving away prizes as part of the league's 44th anniversary celebration on April 9.

"The league is turning 44, and the fans have been with us all these years. It will be a month of celebration, and we're offering special treats to the fans as our token of appreciation," said PBA commissioner Willie Marcial.

THE Rain or Shine Elasto Painters are moving to the semifinals of the PBA Philippine Cup after eliminating at the first instance the undermanned Northport Batang Pier, 91-85, in quarterfinal action on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

CALASIAO, Pangasinan serves as home to PBA for the next four days when it plays host to this year's All-Star weekend spectacle.

The league delegation troops to Pangasinan's first class municipality starting on Thursday to kick off the festivity, whose highlight is the traditional clash between the North and South All Stars set on Sunday at the Calasiao Sports Complex.