Ian Sangalang took over as Magnolia outlasted NLEX in double overtime, 112-105, to return to its winning ways in the 2021 Honda PBA Philippine Cup, Wednesday at the Don Honorio Ventura State University Gym in Bacolor, Pampanga.
The 6-foot-7 slotman scored six of his team’s eight points in the second extra period as the Hotshots completed the comeback from 16 down in the fourth quarter to redeem themselves from last Sunday’s stinging loss to TNT.
His heroics saved not just his squad but also the big shot of second-year forward Aris Dionisio, who drilled the booming three-pointer with 2.4 seconds remaining in the first overtime that sent the game to another five minutes.
“It’s all about the grit and determination eh,” said head coach Chito Victolero proudly. “This group of guys, I’m very proud of them kasi they don’t give up eh … I’m very proud of these guys. Yung tinrabaho nila, sobrang grabe.
“I think deserving talaga silang manalo kasi sobra ‘yung tinrabaho. Second overtime, ‘yung puso nila and energy andun pa rin.”
Calvin Abueva led Magnolia with 23 points on a 50-percent clip from the floor and 12 rebounds for a conference-leading fourth double-double, although he wasn’t able to finish the game as he got fouled out with 2:52 left to play.
Sangalang had 21 points and eight rebounds. Paul Lee made 18 points as he went 10-of-13 from the charity stripe, while Mark Barroca finished with 13 points, seven boards, five assists, and two steals.
Dionisio chimed in a season-high 11 points aided by three triples in a season-high 19 minutes as the Hotshots rose to solo second at 6-2.
“I think ‘yung elimination hanggang pumupunta kami sa playoffs, nag-iimprove kami and we have a good chance siguro,” said Victolero.
Things looked bleak for Magnolia when it fell behind, 71-87, barely two minutes into the fourth, until Sangalang, Lee, Abueva, and Dionisio joined hands for a 22-3 blitz to put their side up, 93-90, with 2:30 on the clock.
JR Quinahan and Jericho Cruz, though, made a bucket each to give the lead back to the Road Warriors, but a foul away from the ball sent Lee to the line. He split his shot and the game got tied at 94 with a minute left.
Both squads tried to seize the upper hand, but Cruz and Abueva missed their triples. The former, though, was able to collar the latter’s miss with 12.5 seconds to go, and he tried to put matters on his own hands afterward.
Cruz took on Barroca one-on-one as he looked to win it for NLEX, but the veteran guard was able to rip the ball away from him as time expired.
Cruz was able to atone for that in the first OT as he gave them a 103-99 cushion with 18.6 seconds to spare. He also had the chance to ice the game with 10.5 ticks left, but only made one of his two freebies.
That allowed the Hotshots to tie it up, and that’s exactly what they did as Dionisio hit a trey and was even fouled by Quinahan. He had a shot to put his squad ahead but failed to complete the four-point play.
“Kung hindi dahil kay Aris, siguro wala na,” said Victolero of the former NAASCU MVP, the Hotshots’ ninth pick in the 2019 Rookie Draft.
Definitely, it was more than enough to give Magnolia a chance to win, and Sangalang pounced on the opportunity as he willed his team to the triumph.
“Ang sabi ko lang sa kanila let’s just try to limit our turnovers and at the same time,mababa lang namin yung lead to single digits … and then yon. Unti-unti. Because of our determination, because of our hustle,” said Victolero.
Meanwhile, Cruz had 21 points and eight rebounds to lead NLEX, who saw their three-game winning streak come to a bitter end.
Don Trollano supplied 15 points. Quinahan had 14, while Kris Porter and the returning Tony Semerad made 13 and 12 points, respectively, in the defeat that dropped the Road Warriors’ record to 4-3.
Magnolia and NLEX will hit the court once more on Friday, September 10. The Hotshots will face Rain or Shine at 12:30 p.m. to open another triple-header, while the Road Warriors plays TNT at 3:00 p.m.
The Scores:
Magnolia (112) – Abueva 23, Sangalang 21, Lee 18, Barroca 13, Dionisio 11, Corpuz 9, Ahanmisi 6, Jalalon 6, Dela Rosa 2, Pascual 2, Reavis 1, Brill 0.
NLEX (105) – Cruz 21, Trollano 15, Quinahan 14, Porter 13, Semerad 12, Alas 9, Miranda 8, Soyud 7, Oftana 3, Paniamogan 3, Ayonayon 0.
Quarterscores: 29-26, 45-49, 71-84, 94-94, 104-104, 112-105.
