WATCH: Post-game interview with Calvin Abueva and Coach Chito Victolero [Sept. 30, 2021]

Third-ranked Magnolia completed a two-game sweep of No. 6 Rain or Shine, fashioning out a 96-86 victory to reach the PBA Philippine Cup Final Four at the Don Honorio Ventura State U Gym Thursday night.

Paul Lee top scored with 24 points, and Calvin Abueva (20 points and 19 rebounds) and Ian Sangalang (13 markers and 11 boards) delivered double-double games as the Hotshots repeated their 81-70 conquest of the Elasto Painters Sunday and thus booked a semis spot versus the winner of the Meralco-NLEX matchup.

“Coach (Chito Victolero) was telling us kailangan focused lang. Ang goal namin sa elims eh No. 1 or No. 2, No. 3 ang ibinigay sa amin, pero wala kaming doubt kaya namin, kailangan lang mag-trabaho,” said Abueva.

“Nakaraos kami sa quarters at tapos na ang semis (hunt). Baka naman makuha rin namin ang finals,” added Abueva.

The do-it-all 6-foot-3 forward gained back-to-back Philippine Cup semis, having reached the Final Four in the previous bubble with the Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters curiously against the Magnolia Hotshots.

And Abueva is hoping to go all the way to the top this time.

“Kaya yan, basta work hard lang,” he said.