MAGNOLIA and NLEX came through with contrasting bounce-back wins and got back in the scheme of things in the PBA Governors’ Cup quarterfinals on Friday night.
The Hotshots paraded a new import in Jabari Bird and helped the team erect a runaway 121-69 victory over Rain or Shine to even their best-of-five series at 1-1.
The Road Warriors also tied things up with the TNT Tropang Giga behind a 93-90 thriller in the second game at the Sta. Rosa Multi-Purpose Sports Complex.
Both quarterfinals series are now down to a best-of-three and resume Sunday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
Briefly, here are the takeaways in the first doubleheader to be played in Laguna this season.
1.BIRD COULD BE THE ANSWER TO MAGNOLIA’S IMPORT WOES
The former Boston Celtics serves as the fourth import of the Hotshots this conference after Glenn Robinson III, Shabazz Muhammad, and Rayvonte Rice.
The son of former PBA import Carl Bird had decent numbers in his league debut with 22 points, 13 rebounds, and two assists, while shooting 10-of-15 from the field. Chito Victolero appeared satisfied with the way his import played after the 52-point drubbing of the Elasto Painters.
Hopefully, Magnolia settles for the 30-year-old Bird as looking for another replacement may already prove to be a disaster for the team’s campaign.
2.NO FULLER FOR ROS IN GAME 3
The promising campaign of the Elasto Painters hit a major snag following the eye injury suffered by Fuller courtesy of a poking incident involving big man Ian Sangalang. The hardworking import left the game with 30 seconds left in the first quarter and never returned.
Fuller was later brought to the hospital as his left eye became swollen and hardly has vision. Coach Yeng Guiao could bear the sting of Rain or Shine’s worst loss in franchise history, but certainly wouldn’t take it sitting down the sight of his team playing without an import in an important game as the quarterfinals series.
The veteran coach called on the league to take a look at the incident, while hoping for the best on the 34-year-old import.
3.RHJ CAN’T WIN ‘EM ALL
Yes, even the best imports misses crucial free throws and Hollis-Jefferson was no exception. The NBA veteran was fouled by Javee Mocon while attempting from the four-point line with three seconds left and the Tropang Giga trailing, 92-88.
Hollis-Jefferson made the first two free throws, but missed out on the third. He then intentionally missed on his final foul shot before grabbing the rebound before being called for an offensive foul. He finished with a 12-of-19 shooting from the free throw line.
Still, Hollis-Jefferson ended the night with a monster game of 22 points and 22 rebounds.
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.
