CHICAGO -- Apparently, it was "amateur night" in the PBA this Sunday.
In the first game of a doubleheader at the PhilSports Arena, Magnolia lost to Meralco by scoring just 51 points. Yes, 51. That's not a typo.
What the hell was that?
When your offense is as cold as your ube ice cream, your team name should be anything but Hotshots.
In setting the record for the lowest scoring output in this conference, Magnolia shot just 25 percent from the field (18-of-71) and 5.2 percent from 3 (1-of-19).
This is not the work of a professional team. This is more like Adamson without Jerom Lastimosa. But at least in the UAAP, they play just 40 minutes, not 48.
Desperate to understand what the heck on Kume Marcial's front porch just happened, I immediately sent Magnolia coach Chito Victolero a text message begging for enlightenment.
NO RESPONSE. CRICKETS.
However, Meralco coach Luigi Trillo, who had a front-row seat to the embarrassing pile of garbage offered an explanation.
"They didn't have (Jio) Jalalon and (Calvin) Abueva. Those two are big to them," Trillo told SPIN.ph.
No offense meant but Jalalon and Abueva ain't exactly Steph Curry and Klay Thompson where their absence would cause a catastrophic power outage on offense. Besides, "the Hotshots" had 12 other guys who suited up and played.
Amazingly, no one scored more than six points, including one of my favorite players, Mark Barroca, who went just 1-of-9.
The rest of the starters -- James Laput, Aris Dioniso, Jerrick Balanza, and Russell Escoto --- were similarly inept and sank only 5 of a combined 23 field goals.
Wow. These guys must have stared at the sun too long without protective eyeglasses during the eclipse.
I also have a different theory. The Hotshots laced up their shoes today unprepared and uninterested in competing probably because they've already secured a playoff spot.
IF SO, THE FAULT LIES ON VICTOLERO AND HIS STAFF.
After scoring just 21 at halftime, you'd think adjustments would be made. But the horror show only continued as Magnolia finished with just a bush league total of 9 assists against 18 turnovers.
Here's my dilemma: If I suspect that some hanky-panky went on here, am I a fool or just naive?
Magnolia shouldn't care about what I think, but it needs to listen to the fans.
"Dapat itapon na ang Magnolia Pambansang Bano sa mosquito division," reader Kier Fajardo wrote on the FB page of SPIN.ph.
"Naknam. Playoffs mode na kaagad and introvoys," added Mark Tabang while Ace Corpuz said "mag quit na lang kayo sa PBA."
The league is trying to boost its dwindling, dying attendance by giving away free tickets. It's not gonna work when their product spits out games where Magnolia scores only 51.
Who wants to see any of that?
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