ANTONIO Hester scored 28 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in his first game as Magnolia Chicken Timplados import and the Hotshots finally picked up a win, beating Phoenix Super LPG, 108-95, on Friday in the 2023 PBA Governors’ Cup at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
Magnolia vs Phoenix recap
Hester went to work early with 13 first-half points, building a 58-36 lead at the break. The Hotshots held a 63-36 lead in the third, the largest lead of the ballgame.
Magnolia barged into the win column for the first time after dropping the first three games, doing so after Hester came in to replace the ineffective Eric McCree as import.
Hester only had three days to prepare for his first game, but was in game shape having come from the Asean Basketball League where he played his last match for the Zamboanga Valientes just last weekend.
“This guy,” said Magnolia coach Chito Victolero, pointing to Hester during the postgame press conference when asked about the difference in Friday’s match. “He changed a lot of our movement especially our offensive schemes. Without Ian (Sangalang), we don’t have a post threat.”
Mark Barroca had 19 points on 8-of-14 from the field, while Calvin Abueva poured 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Hotshots.
Jason Perkins finished with 20 points for Phoenix but Du’Vaughn Maxwell was limited to 11 points, the lowest output among the current crop of imports this conference.
The scores:
Magnolia 108 – Hester 28, Barroca 19, Abueva 18, Lee 14, Ahanmisi 12, Dela Rosa 6, Escoto 4, Wong 3, Jalalon 2, Laput 2, Corpuz 0, Reavis 0, Dionisio 0, Mendoza 0.
Phoenix Super LPG 95 – Perkins 20, Muyang 15, Tio 13, Maxwell 11, Jazul 9, Serrano 8, Manganti 6, Alejandro 4, Adamos 3, Go 3, Soyud 3, Lalata 0, Garcia 0, Camacho 0.
Quarters: 23-21; 58-36; 87-67; 108-95.
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