ANTIPOLO – Magnolia bled Terrafirma dry in the second quarter before leaving its counterparts ripped into shreds, 127-94, to remain unscathed in the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup, Sunday evening at the Ynares Center here.
Jerrick Ahanmisi nailed seven straight by knocking down shots from both arcs. Then Zavier Lucero hit a trey of his own as those long bombs set up the telling 23-0 run toward a commanding 54-27 lead with 5:38 on the clock.
The Hotshots finished the period with 38 big points for a 65-37 advantage at the break, and they faced little defiance on the way to collecting their fifth win in as many outings.
With the victory, they remain on top of the team standings.
“‘Yun naman ‘yung system namin eh. We just try to go hard every time we step on the court, give our hundred percent,” said head coach Chito Victolero.
(C) PBA Images
Lucero showed the way with 17 points and nine rebounds without a turnover while Paul Lee came through with 13, spiked by a pair of four-pointers.
Ahanmisi made 11 points and seldom-used Joseph Eriobu finished with the same amount of points, highlighted by an emphatic jam late in the game as the quartet led the balanced attack — all while coming off the bench.
All 15 players saw action in yet another rout, with James Laput supplying nine points and five rebounds as he was also key in the aforementioned run.
The quintet of Jerom Lastimosa, Rome Dela Rosa, Jerrick Balanza, Calvin Abueva, and Ian Sangalang, on the other hand, supplied eight points apiece in indeed an embarrassment of wealth for the perennial contenders.
“Of course, I’m very happy. Everybody stepped up, everybody contributed,” said Victolero. “Even ‘yung players galing off the bench, ready sila maglaro.”
Magnolia will look to maintain its perfect record against Robert Bolick and the surging NLEX (3-1) next Sunday, May 11, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
(C) PBA Images
Louie Sangalang led Terrafirma with 19 points, 12 rebounds, and seven assists in the defeat, which is now their fourth in five outings.
Stanley Pringle and Kevin Ferrer came up with 17 markers apiece for a team that badly missed the services of star guard Terrence Romeo.
The Scores:
Magnolia 127 – Lucero 17, Lee 13, Ahanmisi 11, Eriobu 11, Laput 9, Abueva 8, Lastimosa 8, Sangalang 8, Dela Rosa 8, Balanza 8, Barroca 7, Alfaro 6, Escoto 6, Reavis 4, Dionisio 3.
Terrafirma 94 – Sangalang 19, Pringle 17, Ferrer 17, Olivario 8, Melecio 7, Ramos 7, Hernandez 6, Catapusan 6, Nonoy 4, Zaldivar 3, Hanapi 0.
Quarterscores: 27-25, 65-37, 91-63, 127-94.
#WATCH: “EVERYBODY’S HAPPY”
Coach Chito Victolero lauds Magnolia’s depth as the Hotshots continue to dominate in the #PBA2025 Philippine Cup 🏀
📹 @justinebacnis /Tiebreaker Times pic.twitter.com/IwxMduayC8
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) May 4, 2025
