MAGNOLIA cooled down a hot-shooting Phoenix side, 107-93, to score back-to-back wins in the PBA Philippine Cup on Sunday.
The Hotshots trailed by 10 at halftime, no thanks to the Fuel Masters' sizzling shooting from beyond the arc, before slowly inching their way back in the second half behind back up bigs Abu Tratter and Joseph Eriobu and the deadly duo of Mark Barroca and Ian Sangalang.
By the time the fourth quarter came, Magnolia had regained the lead, 79-77, before going on a 12-2 run and taking the fight out of Phoenix.
The second straight win improved Magnolia's record to 3-2.
Victolero: 'Hindi kami 'yun'
The Hotshots gave up 39 points to Phoenix in the second quarter - where the Fuel Masters were 10-of-21 from beyond the arc - which coach Chito Victolero said wasn't exactly Magnolia basketball.
"Hindi kami 'yun," said Victolero of the Hotshots, who always thrive on their defensive mentality.
The 39 points was the most Magnolia had given up in a quarter since TNT scored 40 in the opening period of Game 1 of the 2021 Philippine Cup finals in the Bacolor bubble.
True enough, Magnolia turned on the switch in the second half, limiting the Fuel Masters to just 20 points in the third quarter.
Phoenix limited to only 36 points in the second half
In all, Phoenix only scored 36 points in the second half.
Barroca topscored for Magnolia with 27 points, tying his career high, while Sangalang added 23 and nine rebounds.
The duo of Tratter and Eriobu combined for 19 points and eight rebounds.
The loss was a sorry one for Phoenix, which led by as many as 55-44 in the second quarter when team captain RJ Jazul, Ken Tuffin, Raffy Verano, and Javie Mocon took turns puncturing the hoops from three-point range.
Jazul shot 5-of-7 from beyond the arc to finish with 21 points for the Fuel Masters, who fell to a 2-5 record.
The scores
Magnolia (107) -- Barroca 27, Sangalang 23, Jalalon 13, Eriobu 11, Tratter 8, Dionisio 7, Lee 7, Abueva 6, Balanza 2, Mendoza 2, Reavis 1, Escoto 0, Laput 0.
Phoenix (93) -- Jazul 21, Tuffin 17, Perkins 16, Mocon 11, Salado 8, Verano 8, Alejandro 6, Rivero 6, Muyang 0, Camacho 0, Daves 0, Lalata 0.
Quarterscores: 28-18; 47-57; 79-77; 107-93.
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