After two losses this conference, the Magnolia Hotshots exacted revenge on fierce rivals Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, 106-77, to push their 2019 PBA Philippine Cup best-of-three quarterfinal series to the limit, Monday evening at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
The Hotshots jumped out of the gates to start the match with an 11-0 run, and never looked back. They would go on to widen their lead to as many as 31 points a handful of times in the final period.
“We just only tied the series,” said Magnolia head coach Chito Victolero. “Our spirit, ‘yung aura namin, ‘yung passion namin noong Game One – it’s not Magnolia Hotshots basketball. And nakita naman nila sa film.
“Siguro maganda lang ‘yung bounce-back namin,” he continued.
Ian Sangalang led Magnolia with 21 points on top of nine rebounds and a steal. Sophomore guard Robbie Herndon was part of the Hotshots’ starting unit, and produced 18 points on 8-of-14 shooting along with five blocks.
Jio Jalalon and Mark Barroca bounced back after a lackadaisical showing in the series opener last Saturday. The former had 17 points, six assists, five rebounds, and five steals, while the latter supplied 13 points, four steals, and three boards.
Paul Lee chimed in 13 markers as well, with seven caroms.
According to the league’s stats chief Fidel Mangonon III, this has been Magnolia’s most lopsided win in the Manila Clasico rivalry since 2008, when they clobbered Ginebra 103-76 in the Philippine Cup eliminations.
Sol Mercado was the lone double-digit scorer for Ginebra with 11 points.
Greg Slaughter, who had been in his element back in Game One as he made 15 points and 12 rebounds, was nowhere near that form, as he only had five points and two rebounds. Japeth Aguilar got limited as well to only five points.
Game Three will be on Wednesday, April 10, still at the Big Dome.
The Scores:
Magnolia 106 – Sangalang 21, Herndon 18, Jalalon 17, Barroca 13, Lee 13, Dela Rosa 11, Ramos 6, Abundo 3, Reavis 2, Brondial 2, Gamalinda 0, Melton 0, Pascual 0.
Ginebra 77 – Mercado 13, Thompson 8, Ferrer 8, Dela Cruz 7, Caperal 6, Teodoro 6, Tenorio 5, Aguilar J. 5, Slaughter 5, Chan 4, Devance 4, Mariano 2.
Quarterscores: 25-18, 51-38, 81-54, 106-77.
