ANTIPOLO — Magnolia extended its winning streak to three for the first time in the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup following a vengeful 115-101 victory over the slumping Phoenix Super LPG at the Ynares Center here Wednesday night.
Similar to what they did against Meralco the last time out, the Hotshots leaned on another big fourth-quarter assault, opening the period with a 16-2 blitzkrieg to flip a two-point deficit to a 98-86 advantage in their favor with 5:49 remaining.
The game would be all but decided since, and they would go on to earn a measure of payback against the team that spoiled their conference debut by way of a 98-86 decision last July 11 at the Ynares Center II in Montalban.
Following the result, Magnolia hiked its record to above .500 for the first time as they improved to 4-3 in Group B, in the process dragging the Fuel Masters down to solo second at 4-3 after previously sharing the lead with Rain or Shine.
KJ Buffen led Magnolia with 35 points and 10 rebounds but Jerom Lastimosa took the spotlight with a career-high 30 points en route to earning Player of the Game honors—a citation some felt was robbed of him in their last game.
