MAGNOLIA overcame an undermanned NorthPort side, 105-94, on Wednesday for its second straight win in the PBA 49th Season Governors’ Cup at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
The resurgent Hotshots improved to 3-2 (win-loss) for solo third place in Group A as Zav Lucero, the player they acquired in an offseason trade in exchange for Jio Jalalon, finishing with 16 points and 12 rebounds.
The Batang Pier suffered their second straight defeat while NorthPort played shorthanded with the absence of import Venky Jois and William Navarro. They fell 2-3 in a share of fourth place with Converge in Group A.
Glenn Robinson III had 25 points and 11 rebounds, while Paul Lee added 20 points and 11 assists as Magnolia had three players with double-double statistics.
The Hotshots finished with an 18-7 run after the game was knotted at 87 with Robinson, Lee, and Lucero contributing in the finishing kick.
“When we knew that Jois and Navarro won’t be in the game, that’s the reminder. Sobrang hirap (playing against an all-Filipino team), the team will play hard because they have no import,” said Magnolia coach Chito Victolero.
“In the first half, we had a hard time to execute. It was always one pass, one shot, we don’t move the ball very well and we didn’t play. That’s our reminder at halftime. If we want to win this game, we have to play solid on both ends of the floor. Buti naman, kahit papaano, nag-grind kami,” said Victolero.
Cade Flores had 23 points and 10 rebounds in contributing with Jois and Navarro out. Joshua Munzon had 13 points, three rebounds, and three steals for the Batang Pier.
Two games after scoring 51 points, Arvin Tolentino only had 11 points on 5-of-14 shooting from the field, but grabbed 12 rebounds in the contest.
The scores:
Magnolia 105 – Robinson III 25, Lee 20, Lucero 16, Ahanmisi 10, Abueva 10, Sangalang 8, Barroca 8, Dionisio 5, Balanza 2, Dela Rosa 2, Laput 1, Mendoza 0, Eriobu 0.
NorthPort 94 – Flores 23, Munzon 13, Cuntapay 12, Tolentino 11, Yu 10, Onwubere 7, Jalalon 5, Bulanadi 4, Tratter 4, Nelle 3, Amores 2, Taha 0.
Quarters: 23-22; 46-46; 76-73; 105-94.
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