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 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.
(C) PBA Images
“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.
“The locals should really produce also. I’m not saying through points, just the support of the locals, napakalaking bagay na sa import. So the import doesn’t have to score 50 or 60 points just to win the game,” said Tenorio.
“Siyempre magagaling din mag-scout na ‘yung mga teams ngayon eh, so we really have to work together, to help our import, especially the locals,” he added.
Now that they have beaten Meralco in the first of two meetings, the Hotshots will brace for a pair of tough matches ahead, first against Rain or Shine next Friday, July 31, and then versus Ginebra in another Clasico on Sunday, August 2.
(C) PBA Images
Antonio Hester had 28 points and 10 rebounds versus his ex-team in the loss, doing almost everything by his lonesome as the others were off-beat.
CJ Cansino, for one, had 12 points on 11 shots, with Bong Quinto and Aaron Black the only ones who played decently with 11 and 10, respectively.
Black himself was responsible for keeping them close in the fourth, with his floater lifting Meralco to within two points, 88-86, with 8:53 remaining.
But Magnolia could no longer be stopped as it buckled down to work on both ends, resulting in a 17-6 attack that put it up by 13 late in the game.
The Bolts fell to 2-2 following the defeat and will try to get back on track quickly when they face the Kings on July 31 as well at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The Scores:
Magnolia 112 – Buffen 26, Lucero 20, Sangalang 16, Barroca 14, Lastimosa 13, Dela Rosa 9, Lee 6, Jopia 4, Alfaro 4, Andrada 0, Verano 0, Koon 0.
Meralco 98 – Hester 28, Cansino 12, Quinto 11, Black 10, Newsome 9, Banchero 7, Hodge 6, Maliksi 6, Brickman 5, Mocon 2, Bates 2.
Quarterscores: 31-20, 60-55, 84-77, 112-98.
