MAGNOLIA maintained its unblemished slate with an 83-71 win over Converge on Wednesday in the PBA 49th Season Philippine Cup at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
Ian Sangalang got the better of his match-up with kabalen Justine Baltazar, helping the Hotshots improve to 2-0 (win-loss) on the day the PBA celebrated its 50th anniversary.
The FiberXers fell to 1-2.
Sangalang finished with 18 points, nine rebounds, and four assists as he proved a giant headache for his longtime benefactor and now Converge deputy coach Gov. Dennis Pineda.
Sangalang's scoring helped the Hotshots outscore the FiberXers, 24-15, in the fourth quarter.
Zavier Lucero tallied 18 points, five rebounds, and two blocks, while Russel Escoto added 11 points as they flourished in Chito Victolero's new system, which involves more players and puts premium on defense.
“Credit all the players. They embraced ‘yung ginagawa namin kung ano man ‘yung system namin ngayon. Binuild namin ‘yung strength ng depensa namin. I think nagwo-work naman,” said Victolero.
Justin Arana had 14 points and 14 rebounds, while Schonny Winston added 14 points for the FiberXers. Baltazar had 11 points and 13 rebounds but he and Arana weren’t able to contain Sangalang, who scored six points in the fourth.
A short stab by Sangalang made it 78-66 - the biggest lead of the game.
The scores:
Magnolia 83 – Lucero 18, Sangalang 18, Escoto 11, Dela Rosa 9, Abueva 8, Alfaro 4, Barroca 4, Laput 4, Lee 3, Dionisio 2, Lastimosa 2, Eriobu 0, Reavis 0.
Converge 71 – Winston 14, Arana 14, Baltazar 11, Racal 11, Stockton 8, B. Santos 4, Garcia 4, Corpuz 3, Delos Santos 2, Vigan-Fleming 0, Nermal 0, Ambohot 0, Caralipio 0, R. Santos 0.
Quarters: 14-16; 36-33; 59-56; 83-71.
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