MAGNOLIA arrested a two-game slide to start the PBA 50th Season Governors’ Cup, beating Meralco, 112-98, on Friday at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
The Hotshots won their first game in three outings in Group B behind the play of KJ Buffen and local support led by Ian Sangalang and Zavier Lucero to also snap the Bolts’ two-game winning streak.
Magnolia picked up a wire-to-wire win after starting with a 31-20 lead at the end of the first quarter. The Hotshots later led by as many as 14 points, and their lead was never in serious jeopardy.
Meralco now has an even 2-2 win-loss record with the defeat.
The win was vital since Magnolia will play some of the heavyweights of Group B in Rain or Shine next Friday and Barangay Ginebra next Sunday.
“They just have to believe na we can battle with this strong teams, top teams, seasoned teams,” Magnolia coach LA Tenorio said. ‘Yun lang ang gusto namin makita. Pero a lot of things to still work on especially on the defensive end. Marami pa kaming lapses. But for us, we really need this win.”
Buffen had 26 points and 12 rebounds, and Lucero had 20 points, 11 rebounds, two steals, and two blocks for Magnolia.
But Sangalang helped the Hotshots set the tone with six points in that first half. He later had eight in the second half including a basket in the third quarter that got Magnolia up, 78-68, after Meralco came to within six points.
Antonio Hester had 28 points and 10 rebounds against his former team, but Chris Banchero, who had 6-of-7 from fours in the last two games, was held to 0-of-4 from that distance.
The scores:
Magnolia 112 – Buffen 26, Lucero 20, Sangalang 16, Barroca 14, Lastimosa 13, Dela Rosa 9, Lee 6, Alfaro 4, Jopia 4, Andrada 0, Verano 0, Koon 0.
Meralco 98 – Hester 28, Cansino 12, Quinto 11, Black 10, Newsome 9, Banchero 7, Hodge 6, Maliksi 6, Brickman 5, Mocon 2, Bates 2.
Quarters: 31-20; 60-55; 84-77; 112-98.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
