Magnolia left nothing to waste this time around as it kept Blackwater winless, 94-78, to get back on track in the 2021 Honda PBA Philippine Cup, Friday at the Don Honorio Ventura State University Gym in Bacolor, Pampanga.
The Hotshots took control in the third quarter and did all they could to prevent another collapse from taking place, like what happened two days ago where they blew a 13-point lead in the final two minutes and lost to Meralco.
“Talagang very sad and frustrated kami noong after ng game. But it’s good and bad [that it happened],” said head coach Chito Victolero.
“It’s bad because … we relaxed and then natalo kami. It’s good because it happened early in the conference, and we have a chance para ma-correct namin yung mga mali namin,” he added.
Mark Barroca and Ian Sangalang had 16 points apiece to lead Magnolia, who collected its fifth win in six games to stay at third in the standings.
Paul Lee made 15 points and five rebounds. Calvin Abueva finished with his third double-double of the conference with 14 points and 10 boards, while rookie Jerrick Ahanmisi supplied 12 markers spiked by three treys.
“Ang maganda lang sa mga players ko kasi, it’s a team of veteran players, they can easily move forward. They know it’s only one game. We have more games to prepare and this game is very important for us,” said Victolero.
The Hotshots actually started sluggishly and even fell behind by 10 early, but managed to get their act together in the second period. Guards Jio Jalalon and Loren Brill joined hands to end the half in their favor, 44-41.
They then turned to their pesky defense come the third chapter to gain even more separation. A Jackson Corpuz three-pointer capped off a rousing 19-5 blitz en route to a 63-46 advantage with 5:32 on the clock.
There was no looking back for Magnolia from then on. It even led by as many as 19 points a total of four times in the match.
Blackwater, though, showed some signs of life in the final minutes and got to within 10 thanks to Andre Paras, but free throws by both Sangalang and Abueva plus a bucket by Rome Dela Rosa sealed the victory.
“The most important thing is we learned from that mistake and we avoided repeating that mistake,” said the 2018 Coach of the Year.
Kelly Nabong paced the struggling Bossing with 19 points and 14 rebounds in the loss, their sixth in as many outings.
Mike Tolomia was the only other double-digit scorer with 16 for Blackwater, who started hot by burying five straight triples before yet another meltdown.
The two teams will play again on Sunday, September 5, to wrap up Week One of the conference resumption. Magnolia battles TNT at 7:00 p.m., while Blackwater takes on Terrafirma at 2:00 p.m. to open the triple-header.
The Scores:
Magnolia 94 — Sangalang 16, Barroca 16, Lee 15, Abueva 14, Ahanmisi 12, Jalalon 7, Corpuz 6, Delarosa 4, Brill 2, Reavis 2, Melton 0, Pascual 0, Dionisio 0.
Blackwater 78 — Nabong 19, Tolomia 16, Amer 9, Daquioag 8, Canaleta 6, Paras 6, Cruz 6, Enciso 5, Escoto 2, Golla 1, Torralba 0, Desiderio 0
Quarterscores: 22-26, 44-41, 70-57, 94-78.
