Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Tiebreaker Times
(C) PBA Images

Basketball

PBA: Magnolia forces three-way tie after decimating HK Eastern in do-or-die clash


ANTIPOLO — Magnolia stayed alive in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup after submitting arguably its best performance in quite a while to deal Hong Kong Eastern a 107-78 decimation at the Ynares Center here Sunday evening.

Pushed into a do-or-die situation after NLEX joined San Miguel at eighth in the standings last night, the Hotshots made it a three-way tie again following a dominant conquest of the guest team, sparked by a big second quarter.

All three are now toting 5-6 records, with Coach Chito Victolero and Co. hoping for the Beermen to lose to TNT later tonight to boost their own playoff bid.

“The word is survival. We tried to approach this game with a sense of urgency, with a proper mindset,” said head coach Chito Victolero.

2024-25-PBA-Commissioners-Cup-Magnolia-vs-HK-Eastern-Jerom-Lastimosa PBA: Magnolia forces three-way tie after decimating HK Eastern in do-or-die clash Basketball News PBA  - philippine sports news

(C) PBA Images

Ricardo Ratliffe led Magnolia with 25 points on 50-percent shooting from the floor, alongside 16 rebounds, seven assists, two steals, and a block.

Jerom Lastimosa and Zav Lucero delivered 20 points apiece as the young guns helped string together a 13-2 run to open the second quarter and construct a 37-21 lead, setting the tone for the eventual 29-point rout.

Playing a role as well in that breakaway were Ian Sangalang and Mark Barroca, who went on to finish with 14 and 11 points, respectively.

“‘Yung 10 days break namin, maganda yung nangyari,” Victolero said. “We cleaned up everything, lahat ng kulang namin. We’re so focused. I want to give credit to the players because for the last six practices, they are so focused.”

Now they look to emulate such an outing in facing Meralco on January 31 at the Philsports Arena in Pasig, with the aim to remain in the picture.

#ReadMore  Adamson keeps season alive, forces UAAP Men's Basketball do-or-die against UE

“The goal is to survive. Now, we will live for another day. We will try to prepare again for the next game,” said Victolero.

2024-25-PBA-Commissioners-Cup-Magnolia-vs-HK-Eastern-Chris-McLaughlin PBA: Magnolia forces three-way tie after decimating HK Eastern in do-or-die clash Basketball News PBA  - philippine sports news

(C) PBA Images

Chris McLaughlin, meanwhile, had 20 points and 10 rebounds to lead Hong Kong, which fell to 7-4 and dropped to joint fifth with Barangay Ginebra.

With their loss, only the Tropang Giga and the Bolts are left sharing the no. 2 spot with identical 7-3 records although it may change depending on the result of the flagship MVP franchise’s meeting against the Beermen.


The Scores:

Magnolia 107 – Ratliffe 25, Lastimosa 20, Lucero 20, Sangalang 14, Barroca 11, Dela Rosa 8, Abueva 5, Alfaro 4, Lee 0, Dionisio 0, Laput 0.

Hong Kong Eastern 78 – McLaughlin 20, Yang 14, Lam 13, Cao 9, Blankley 9, Guinchard 4, Cheung 3, Pok 3, Chan 2, Zhu 1, Xu 0.

Quarterscores: 24-19, 50-31, 78-56, 107-78.

Written By

Oftentimes on the sidelines. Forever a student of the game. Morayta-bred.


You May Also Like

Basketball

Starhorse Shipping Lines is in discussions with both Terrafirma and the PBA regarding a potential franchise acquisition. Spin.ph first reported Starhorse’s interest in entering...

Basketball

Glen Yang can finally see action for Hong Kong on the international stage after being called up for the upcoming FIBA Asia Cup 2025...

Basketball

Meralco’s hopes of advancing to the East Asia Super League (EASL) Final Four were shattered on Wednesday evening, as the Bolts suffered a heartbreaking...

Basketball

Chris Newsome won’t just leave his brothers behind as Meralco shoots for the remaining ticket to the 2024-25 East Asia Super League (EASL) Final...

Basketball

Ginebra head coach Tim Cone isn’t shy to admit that he still regrets letting go of Arvin Tolentino knowing that he could’ve been one...

Basketball

Two teams made up of Mindanao-born stars will be duking it out in another unique offering by the PBA to spice up its 2025...

Basketball

Gilas Pilipinas has called up a pair of reinforcements to serve as extra bodies for its training camp at the Inspire Sports Academy in...

Basketball

ANTIPOLO – RJ Abarrientos is leaving it up to the powers that be as he chooses to focus on Ginebra’s playoff run in the...

Advertisement