SANTA ROSA, Laguna – Magnolia Chicken Timplados evened the PBA 49th Season Governors’ Cup quarterfinal series in a huge way, beating Rain or Shine, 121-69, on Friday at the City of Santa Rosa Multi-Purpose Complex.
Jabari Bird gave the Hotshots instant impact in his first game in leading them to a 52-point blowout to tie the best-of-five series at 1-1.
READ: Rain or Shine rallies late to outlast Magnolia in Game 1 thriller
The Elasto Painters lost in record fashion, with their five-point production in the second quarter tying the league worst done in four previous times in the finals, but first in a playoff series.
Rain or Shine was also dealt with its worst loss in franchise history, surpassing the 43-point defeat over Barangay Ginebra, 114-71, last May 24, 2009 in a playoff for the second-seed in the Fiesta Conference.
Bird, in his first game after replacing Rayvonte Rice, had 22 points and 13 rebounds, while Calvin Abueva had 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Hotshots, who scored 32 in the second quarter to pull away.
For Magnolia, the 52-point margin was the second biggest in league and franchise history after Star’s 126-73 win over GlobalPort in the 2015 Governors’ Cup quarterfinals.
Magnolia coach Chito Victolero admitted the presence of Bird was a big boost even if he only arrived in the country on Thursday.
“Big factor. It’s not the numbers but it’s all about the aura and the positive aura and the positive vibes of JB,” said Victolero.
Magnolia also took advantage of the absence of Aaron Fuller for majority of the game after being poked in the eye by Ian Sangalang late in the first quarter and never returned.
Sangalang added 12 points, while Mark Barroca had 11 points and 10 assists for the Hotshots.
Adrian Nocum finished with 13 points, while Felix Lemetti added 11 points, but Rain or Shine being down by 38 points at halftime, 66-28, without an import was too much to overcome.
The scores:
Magnolia 121 – Bird 22, Abueva 18, Sangalang 12, Barroca 11, Eriobu 11, Dela Rosa 11, Dionisio 9, Lucero 9, Mendoza 7, Laput 4, Lee 4, Balanza 2, Reavis 1, Alfaro 0, Ahanmisi 0, Escoto 0.
Rain or Shine 69 – Nocum 13, Lemetti 11, Asistio 7, Datu 7, Clarito 6, Santillan 6, Mamuyac 5, Fuller 4, Belga 4, Caracut 1, Escandor 0, Ildefonso 0, Villegas 0, Norwood 0.
Quarters: 34-23; 66-28; 88-49; 121-69.
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