MAGNOLIA got back on track and took a share of the top spot in the process early on in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup as it fended off a tough stand from Terrafirma, 104-93, on Saturday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
The backcourt tandem of Mark Barroca and Jerom Lastimosa took turns in hitting the big baskets for the Hotshots to pull away from the tough fighting Dyip who even took an 11 point lead in the early goings of the game.
With the victory, Magnolia made up for its close loss to Meralco last week, and tied TNT atop of the standings early on with 3-1 records.
Plenty of things to improve on for Hotshots
Despite the win, coach LA Tenorio zeroed in on how his squad can further improve pointing out on how they should be playing better defense without fouling.
The Hotshots committed a total of 32 fouls, giving up 51 free throws to the Dyip. Luckily for Magnolia, Terrafirma couldn't capitalize making only 34 of 51 shots.
"We focused on the things that we learned from the last game which is to really play defense. Yes we won this game, but we also learned a lot in this game. We fouled a lot in this game and fouling is not good defense," Tenorio said.
"In losing and in winning, we learn a lot. May bago kaming natutunan. We always want to have a defensive mentality. We always focus on getting stops, getting stops, getting stops. Yun ang focus namin," he added. "They played zone, we struggled, but more than that it's really our defense, we have to take pride on our defense."
Barroca hit all of his eight shots in the game to finish with 17 points, scoring 11 of those in the payoff period to finally put away the tough Dyip who were still ahead 76-75 after three quarters.
Lastimosa added 16 points while veterans Paul Lee and Ian Sanggalang chipped in 12 points apiece for the Hotshots.
Paolo Hernandez paced the Dyip with a double-double of 16 points and 10 boards while rookie JM Bravo also chipped in 16 but that wasn't enough as the Dyip dropped to 1-3 for the tournament.
The Scores
Magnolia 104 - Barroca 17, Lastimosa 16, Sangalang 12, Lee 12, Lucero 11, Laput 7, Dela Rosa 7, Verano 6, Alfaro 5, Gomez de Liano 5, Gomez 3, Escoto 3, Eriobu 0
Terrafirma 93 - Bravo 16, Hernandez 16, Mariano 12, Ahanmisi 11, Sangalang 11, Paraiso 9, Garcia 5, Rivero 4, Catapusan 4, Olivario 1, Hanapi 0
Quarters: 20-23, 50-47, 75-76, 104-93
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.
