Magnolia notched its second straight win in the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup by sending the once-hot Terrafirma skidding through an 85-70 come-from-behind victory on Tuesday evening at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The Hotshots turned it around late in the third quarter before pulling away for good in the deciding chapter on the way to stringing together their first winning streak after starting the midseason conference with three successive losses.
And this mini streak of theirs will help a great deal in terms of confidence as they enter another Manila Clasico affair with Ginebra this Friday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
(C) PBA Images
“We’ll be ready also, definitely, not because it’s Ginebra, and Manila Clasico, but because we need to get ready because we’re still below .500 in the standings,” head coach LA Tenorio said as they’re still 2-3 in the standings.
Import Clint Chapman led the way with 28 points, 11 rebounds, and three assists as the veteran internationalist continued to be the driving force behind the turnaround. He also had a steal and two blocks for a full line in 34 minutes.
Zav Lucero made 13 points and eight rebounds, while Rome Dela Rosa chipped in 11 points and six rebounds, plus two steals and a block in a turnover-less performance, as he and his fellow veterans took the spotlight this time.
Paul Lee, for one, had eight points in a rare start, while Mark Barroca chipped in five points, five rebounds, and nine of the team’s 27 assists in the triumph.
Lee, in fact, triggered the 9-3 run to start the fourth quarter to construct a 71-59 cushion, which marked the beginning of the breakaway that saw Magnolia lead by as many as 17, 83-66, with only 1:24 left to play.
“I don’t have any problem with my vets. Even if they played badly, they’re still my vets,” said the 41-year-old Tenorio. “They’re gonna get their minutes.”
(C) PBA Images
Jerrick Ahanmisi, on the other hand, had 21 points to lead Terrafirma, which fell to its second loss in a row after a hot 3-0 start in the conference.
Mubashar Ali finished with 18 points, albeit on 18 shots and 18 rebounds, as he and the younger Ahanmisi were the focal point of the Hotshots’ defense.
Maverick Ahanmisi and another former Magnolia player, Joseph Eriobu added 11 markers apiece for the suddenly struggling Dyip crew.
The Scores:
Magnolia 85 – Chapman 28, Lucero 13, Dela Rosa 11, Sangalang 9, Lee 8, Lastimosa 5, Barroca 5, Verano 2, Gomez 2, Escoto 2, Alfaro 0, Gomez de Liano 0, Laput 0, Andrada 0.
Terrafirma 70 – Ahanmisi J. 21, Ali 18, Ahanmisi M. 11, Eriobu 11, Chiu 3, Zaldivar 3, Paraiso 2, Umali 1, Bravo 0, Hernandez 0, Adamos 0, Hanapi 0.
Quarterscores: 21-19, 40-42, 62-56, 85-70.
