KJ Buffen delivered a solid 20-20 showing to lead Magnolia past a hard-fighting Blackwater, 107-101, to notch their fourth straight win in the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Friday evening.
The athletic winger finished with 24 points and 20 rebounds, coming through with crucial hits down the stretch to help restore order after the Bossing came back from 13 down and got to within three, 100-97, with 3:15 to go.
He first went perfect from the free-throw line, and then knocked down a big trifecta to widen the spread to 105-97 with 2:10 remaining—a good enough cushion to survive another fightback attempt by the opposition afterward.
(C) PBA Images
Buffen’s efforts seemingly rubbed off on his teammates, with young winger Chris Koon coming through with a massive steal on opposing import Kentrell Barkley when the latter hauled down the missed jumper by Jerom Lastimosa.
The crew as a whole prevented Blackwater from getting any closer when they cut the gap to 105-102 through sheer defensive grit, and Lastimosa would go on to seal the deal by going 2-for-2 from the line with 3.6 seconds left.
“That’s what we expect from him,” said head coach LA Tenorio of Buffen. “It’s not really the points … but what we lacked talaga is the inside presence and rebounding. Ayun talaga nagiging problema namin ever since I came here.”
“It’s good na talagang pinupunan niya ‘yung mga kailangan namin, and ‘yun naman ang kailangan namin sa import,” added the player-turned-mentor as Buffen helped the team hike its record to 5-3 in Group B.
Lastimosa also registered 24 points on 9-of-15 shooting, on top of three rebounds and seven assists toward earning Player of the Game honors.
Zavier Lucero supplied 17 points in the victory that shall give Magnolia good rhythm heading into its rematch with Barangay Ginebra this Sunday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum. The Hotshots won their previous encounter, 88-73.
“Ito na ‘yung start ng playoffs namin, so we have to start playing like we’re in the playoffs. We won the first game; now we focus on the second game, which is on Sunday,” said Tenorio as he figures in his second Clasico against the Kings.
(C) PBA Images
Sedrick Barefield had 24 points to lead Blackwater, which absorbed its fourth loss in the last five outings and fell to below .500 in the standings (3-4).
Barkley made 20 points, 13 rebounds, and eight assists, while veteran guard Mike DiGregorio and RK Ilagan added 15 and 13 markers, respectively.
The Scores:
Magnolia 107 – Buffen 24, Lastimosa 24 Lucero 17, Koon 9, Andrada 9, Sangalang 7, Gomez de Liano 7, Barroca 6, Dela Rosa 4, Alfaro 0, Laput 0
Blackwater 101 – Barefield 24, Barkley 20, DiGregorio 15, Ilagan 13, Panopio 9, Demusis 8, Una 6, Tratter 2, Cruz-Dumont 2, Murrell 2, Escoto 0, Mendoza 0, David 0, Austria 0.
Quarterscores: 23-25, 53-50, 84-75, 107-101.
