Magnolia snared its first win in the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup by spoiling Meralco’s plans of winning a third straight game through a 112-98 decision in a meeting between budding rivals, Friday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
Bent on breaking through after starting out with twin losses, the Hotshots showed much better poise down the stretch this time around behind their usual suspects after the opposition came within a field goal early in the fourth.
Zavier Lucero scored off a layup, Rome Dela Rosa hit a baseline jumper thanks to a solid back pick, before Ian Sangalang and Mark Barroca came through as the quartet put together an 11-4 run for the 99-90 lead with 6:02 to go.
That restored order for Magnolia although it was the 7-0 spurt—capped by a Dela Rosa trey—for the 105-92 lead with 3:49 left that put the game away.
“I hope ito ‘yung hinihintay naming momentum,” said head coach LA Tenorio as the perennial contenders finally got on board in Group B with a 1-2 record.
Five players finished in double figures in the victory, with import KJ Buffen leading the way with 26 points, 12 rebounds, and five assists.
Lucero himself registered a double-double of his own with 20 points and 11 rebounds, together with two assists, two steals, and two blocks.
Sangalang led the bench mob with 16 points. Barroca and Jerom Lastimosa delivered 14 and 13 markers, respectively, as the locals left Tenorio pleased by providing their American reinforcement the support he’s been needing.
