MAGNOLIA scored a quick bounced-back win at the expense of NLEX, 98-82, and returned into contention for a Top 4 berth in the PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinals.
Big man Zavier Lucero followed up on his career-high performance by topscoring anew for 18 points while adding 12 rebounds, Rome Dela Rosa added 14 and Mark Barroca had 12 for the Hotshots, who were coming off a 114-97 drubbing at the hands of Converge just two nights earlier.
READ Magnolia hoping for the best after Lastimosa bangs head on floor
The dominant win on Sunday at the Ynares Center in Montalban raised the Hotshots’ record to 6-3 (win-loss), tying the Road Warriors at second place.
“NLEX is a good team and they’re on top of the standings for a reason. So we don’t take them lightly. We know they’re going to make their run, so we just did our best to execute on both ends,” said Lucero after coming through with a career-best 31 points in the loss to Converge.
James Laput and rookie Chris Koon each had 11 for Magnolia, with the duo along with Dela Rosa taking over in the second quarter when the Hotshots held the Road Warriors to just eight points to open up a 47-30 lead at the half.
Unlike in its game against Converge when it unraveled in the fourth quarter and failed to sustain its fine start, Magnolia held sway this time and led by as many as 88-66 in the final quarter.
“We had another good start like with Converge, but we didn’t sustain that in the second half. So this time, I reminded the boys, the whole team that we have to learn from the last game,” said Magnolia coach LA Tenorio.
“We cannot let down in the second half especially in this kind of game.”
The loss spoiled the NLEX sendoff for star player Robert Bolick, who will leave with Gilas Pilipinas on Dec. 11 for the 33rd Southeast Asian Games.
Bolick himself struggled from the floor by hitting just 4-of-12 of his shots to finish with 12 points along with Javee Mocon.
Kevin Alas, Xyrus Torres, and Jonnel Policarpio had 11 each but not good enough to prevent the Road Warriors' two-game winning run from coming to an end.
The scores
Magnolia (98) – Lucero 18, Dela Rosa 14, Barroca 12, Koon 11, Laput 11, Sangalang 10, Gomez De Liano 9, Lastimosa 4, Eriobu 3, Alfaro 2, Gomez 0.
NLEX (82) – Bolick 12, Mocon 12, Alas 11, Torres 11, Policarpio 11, Ramirez 7, Nieto 6, Valdez 4, Bahio 4, Fajardo 2, Herndon 2, Onwubere 0, Capulong 0.
Quarterscores: 28-22; 47-30; 70-52; 98-82.
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.
