Magnolia simply took full advantage of being complete and dealt an all-Filipino San Miguel a 120-101 walloping to go back to its winning ways in the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup at the SMART Araneta Coliseum, Sunday.
The Hotshots played against a team that missed Justin Patton, who’s reportedly gone AWOL, and they wasted no time taking the upper hand by rolling to a 30-22 advantage after the first before pulling away for good in the third canto.
Coach LA Tenorio and his men erupted for 34 points after the break, highlighted by a Clint Chapman three and then a Paul Lee four right after to inflate the cushion to its biggest at 26, 88-62, with 3:47 remaining in the period.
They’d face little to no resistance since, and they’d go on to get back on track after losing to Ginebra the last time out, in the process improving to 3-4.
(C) PBA Images
“I told them this team is more dangerous without an import … I challenged them kasi mas mahirap, mas nakakatakot kalaban ang San Miguel pag all-Filipino, and they responded to the challenge, and that’s what I really like,” said Tenorio.
Chapman starred in the triumph with 34 points, spiked by a perfect 3-for-3 clip from three, and six rebounds as he bounced back personally after committing a total of eight turnovers against the Kings that impacted his overall play.
Jerom Lastimosa rebounded as well from that sloppy endgame the last time out and finished with 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting and six assists.
Ian Sangalang made 12 points as the veterans continued to be key in their scheme of things, while Zav Lucero added 11 points and seven boards.
Magnolia will look to build another streak when it takes on Converge next Sunday, April 19, at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
(C) PBA Images
CJ Perez, on the other hand, set the pace for the Beermen with 23 points on 18 shots as they were clearly affected by the ex-NBA cager’s absence.
Mo Tautua’a and Jericho Cruz had 13 points apiece. June Mar Fajardo made 12 points and eight rebounds as Don Trollano chipped in 10 in their loss, which is already their second in a row as they’re coming off a defeat to Rain or Shine.
Coach Leo Austria and his men will play next Sunday as well against NLEX, all of them hoping that Bennie Boatwright will be able to join the team.
The Scores:
Magnolia 120 – Chapman 34, Lastimosa 13, Sangalang 12, Lucero 11, Dela Rosa 9, Lee 7, Alfaro 7, Gomez de Liano 7, Andrada 7, Escoto 5, Barroca 4, Verano 2, Koon 2, Gomez 0, Laput 0.
San Miguel 101 – Perez 23, Tautuaa 13, Cruz 13, Fajardo 12, Trollano 10, Lassiter 8, Brondial 8, Miller 6, Calma 5, Cahilig 3, Rosales 0, Mantua 0, Tiongson 0.
Quarterscores: 30-22; 58-50; 92-72; 120-101.
