Magnolia began its PBA Season 48 Philippine Cup campaign with a dominant 106-75 conquest of Converge, Saturday night at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
The Hotshots seized control of the game late in the first quarter before breaking the game wide open in the following frame for a rousing start to their conference.
On the other hand, the FiberXers remain in search of a win five games into the tilt.
“We talked about respect from the start of our preparation … The right approach, the right mindset, ginawa lahat ng players,” said head coach Chito Victolero
Lead big man Ian Sangalang top-scored for the perennial contenders with 17 points on an excellent 70-percent shooting from the field.
Two-time BPC Calvin Abueva flirted with a double-double as he finished with 14 points and eight rebounds, together with four assists.
Jio Jalalon also registered 14 points, alongside three rebounds, seven assists, and a game-high five steals. And his performance earned him Player of the Game honors.
Mark Barroca supplied 12 points, six assists, and five steals as well, as the veterans showed the way in the romp that saw them lead by as many as 33.
Magnolia will next face Barangay Ginebra in another Manila Clasico affair on March 31, Sunday, 6:15 PM at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
Justin Arana, on the other hand, had 17 points and six rebounds to lead Converge.
The FiberXers have now lost nine straight dating back to the Season 48 Commissioner’s Cup, where it finished with a 1-10 record.
Alec Stockton made 15 points, four rebounds, and three assists, while Bryan Santos added 13 points, spiked by three triples, in the defeat.
The FiberXers have been losing by an average margin of 16.2 points so far in the season-ending conference.
The 31-point beatdown at the hands of the Hotshots has been their worst defeat to date in the ongoing tournament.
Converge will next face Rain or Shine on April 3, Sunday, 7:30 PM also at the Big Dome, hoping of course to put an end to its struggles.
The Scores:
Magnolia 106 – Sangalang 17, Jalalon 14, Abueva 14, Barroca 12, Dela Rosa 8, Tartter 8, Lee 7, Laput 6, Ahanmisi 5, Escoto 4, Eriobu 3, Dionisio 2, Corpuz 2, Mendoza 0.
Converge 75 – Arana 17, Stockton 15, Santos 13, Caralipio 8, Winston 8, Delos Santos 6, Maagdenberg 3, Fornilos 2, Nieto 2, Balanza 1, Fleming 0, Andrade 0, Melecio 0, Ambohot 0, Zaldivar 0.
Quarters: 24-20, 53-39, 79-59, 106-75.
