TAMED and composed for the most part of the match, Calvin Abueva unleashed his beastly side in the final two seconds and delivered the winning basket that also sent Magnolia Hotshots straight to the playoffs of the PBA Philippine Cup at the Don Honorio Ventura State University Gym in Bacoor, Pampanga on Friday.

The Hotshots nipped the hardfighting NorthPort Batang Pier, 90-89, with Abueva putting on the finishing touches and giving his team its seventh win in 10 games.

“It was a designed play for Calvin, a back screen for an alley oop, but it wasn’t there, so we went straight to him at the post and he made the winning play,'' Magnolia coach Chito Victolero said.

Magnolia still has one game left — against a tough San Miguel squad on Sunday — and the team is no longer hard-pressed to win its last game in the eliminations.

The Hotshots, however, have the chance to gain a twice-to-beat incentive in the first round of the playoffs if they win over the Beermen. San Miguel and Meralco are the two other teams vying for a top two berth, but their chances depend on how they perform in their coming games.

San Miguel scored a convincing 110-80 victory over Phoenix in the second game on Friday and raised its record to 6-3.

“We were playing five games in the last 10 days and the weeklong rest helped a lot,” added Victolero. “The players were able to rest their legs, while the coaching staff also had a chance to get our minds off basketball.”

Meanwhile, the Alaska Aces, who returned to the hardcourt on Friday, will troop to the Don Honorio Ventura State University Gym anew today, September 18, less than 24 hours after playing their first game back after more than two weeks of inactivity.

Alaska takes on top seed TNT at 4:35 p.m.

The Tropang Giga is already assured of getting one of the top two seats that carry a twice-to-beat incentive in the next round.

For more than two weeks, Alaska spent its time in isolation in compliance with the league's health and safety protocols. Eight of its players only returned to practice on Thursday after undergoing quarantine in their respective homes.

Meanwhile, Meralco guns for its seventh win in nine games against winless Blackwater at 2 p.m. in today’s opening salvo.