Magnolia kept its hold of the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup leadership firmly following a 118-99 victory over Phoenix in Zamboanga City, Saturday.
The Hotshots unloaded 35 points in the first 12 minutes alone before building a 67-53 lead at the break, and such an impressive first-half showing was all they needed to eventually net their fourth win in as many outings.
Ian Sangalang finished with 20 points, missing just twice in the 11 shots he took as the veteran center showed the way in the balanced attack.
Homecoming king Mark Barroca, who turned 39 in his birthplace a day before the game, came through with 18 points, six rebounds, and five assists.
(C) PBA Images
Zav Lucero came off the bench and notched another double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds. Paul Lee also fired 17, spiked by three triples, while James Laput added 10 as five players finished in twin digits in the win.
Lucero, Lee, and Sangalang were crucial in Magnolia’s second-quarter breakaway, which was actually sparked by guard Jerrick Ahanmisi.
Ahanmisi nailed a trey and then a four to widen a two-point gap to 52-43 before the troika helped push their lead to 65-48 before the period ended.
It would be all Hotshots since, with their lead rising to as high as 28 points, 107-79, following a Barroca layup with less than eight minutes left to play.
Coach Chito Victolero & Co. will look to go 5-0 when they take on Terrafirma on May 4, Sunday, 5:00 p.m. at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
(C) PBA Images
Phoenix, on the other hand, was led by Kai Ballungay with game-highs of 25 points and 15 rebounds in the loss, their third in four games.
RR Garcia, who’s also one of the Zamboanguenos who played at home for the first time in a while, made 22 points. Jason Perkins had 17 points.
The Fuel Masters will look to pick themselves up against TNT on May 2, Friday, 7:30 p.m. as the two are set to serve as the main attraction of the league’s first visit in the newly opened Ynares Center II in Montalban, Rizal.
The Scores:
Magnolia 118 – Sangalang 20, Barroca 18, Lucero 17, Lee 17, Laput 10, Dela Rosa 8, Ahanmisi 7, Abueva 6, Alfaro 6, Escoto 5, Lastimosa 4, Dionisio 0.
Phoenix 99 – Ballungay 25, Garcia 22, Perkins 17, Tio 8, Soyud 6, Tuffin 5, Rivero 4, Camacho 4, Jazul 4, Manganti 4, Daves 0, Ular 0, Verano 0, Alejandro 0.
Quarterscores: 35-27, 67-53, 94-74, 118-99.
