MAGNOLIA got back on the winning track on Friday night, repulsing a late charge by Converge, 105-93, in the main game of the PBA Governors’ Cup.
The Hotshots went to Mark Barocca when the going got tough, and the veteran guard delivered by triggering a 7-0 finishing kick highlighted by a dagger three-pointer that finished off the rallying FiberXers.
It was the first victory of the new season for the Hotshots.
Northport also won for the first time in the conference behind the hot-shooting William Navarro’s career-high of 31 points in a 112-93 demolition of listless Terrafirma.
Listed below are the takeaways for the weekend doubleheader at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
1. NAVARRO REITERATED EXTENDED PLAYING MINUTES AT NORTHPORT
The 6-foot-6 forward attributed his new PBA career-high to the extended playing minutes given by coach Bonnie Tan in the 19-point win over the Dyip. The former Ateneo stalwart said should he get to play more, he’ll continue to deliver for the Batang Pier. “I just need more minutes, and I know how to deliver,” said Navarro during the post-game presser. “I just have to be on the court more,” he added later. The third year big man played 25 minutes in the win against Terrafirma, spiked by a 13-of-20 shooting including 3-of-5 from beyond the arc. He also had five rebounds and two assists.
2. AHANMISI SHOWCASES HIS ABILITY FROM LONG RANGE
Jerrick Ahanmisi was the first player to score on back-to-back baskets from four-point range. The shooting guard from Adamson did the feat during the first quarter of Magnolia’s game against Converge, nailing consecutive baskets from 27-feet for an outright eight straight points. He finished by shooting 3-of-4 from the same distance for 14 points.
3. TERRAFIRMA LOSES ANOTHER GAME BY HUGE MARGIN
For the second straight game, the Dyip were blown away from the court, this time courtesy of a 19-point loss by the Batang Pier. The lopsided outcome came just two days after the team also went down by a huge margin against Converge, 127-95. Terrafirma has lost its last two games by an average margin of 25.5, while averaging just 94 points per game.
4. MAGNOLIA DEFENSE LIMITS STOCKTON’S PRODUCTION
It was a long night for Converge guard Alec Stockton who has slowed down by Magnolia’s defense. Coach Chito Victolero tasked import Glenn Robinson III to take on the former Far Eastern University guard, who ended up with only three points on a 1-of-6 shooting from the floor. Stockton didn’t score his first basket until the final 2:41 mark of the game and the FiberXers down by 98-90. His numbers were a far cry when he scored 21 points in the team’s 32-point win over Terrafirma in its season debut.
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.
