Magnolia’s Ian Sangalang. PBA IMAGES
MANILA, Philippines–Magnolia bucked one hurdle after another to pull out a 105-83 victory over Terrafirma at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig on Friday, keeping its record in the PBA Philippine Cup unblemished, and solidifying its place in front of the race.
Ian Sangalang paced the Hotshots with 18 points, while Mark Barroca chipped ing 16 more off the bench, plugging the hole left by Paul Lee, who exited the game just before the halftime break.
“Good thing that we had Mark. A veteran. He’s young. He’s good for another 10 to 12 years,” Magnolia coach Chito Victolero said in jest.
On a serious note, the champion mentor said the triumph was a result of his charges coming in with the “proper mindset,” despite going against a team that has yet to win a single ball game.
“We wanted to respect this Terrafirma team,” he said. “In the last three days of our preparation, that has been my teaching. I didn’t want us to relax.”
Terrafirma threatened to come back in the third period behind Roosevelt Adams and Juami Tiongson, who brought the Dyip within eight, 69-61.
Magnolia, however, found another hero in its rookie—10th overall pick Jerrick Ahanmisi—who poured all of his 15 points in the final frame.
“We’ve been waiting for this kind of performance from Jerrick for the last three games as he’s been doing well in practice,” Victolero said of his young ward, who pretty much greased the Hotshots’ pull away in the fourth period.
Calvin Abueva, Jackson Corpuz, and Jio Jalalon all tallied twin-digit scores, helping Magnolia truly manage without Lee who according to Victolero, was kept on the sidelines as a precautionary measure.
Adams finished with 25 points, turning in the finest scoring performance of his young career. Tiongson added 19 as Terrafirma slid to 0-3.
The scores
Magnolia 105 — Sangalang 18, Barroca 16, Ahanmisi 15, Abueva 14, Corpuz 12, Jalalon 10, Lee 5, Brill 4, dela Rosa 4, Dionisio 3, Deleon 2, Pascual 2, Melton 0, Reavis 0, Capobres 0.
Terrafirma 83 — Adams 25, Tiongson 19, Ramos 10, Batiller 7, Camson 6, McCarthy 5, Munzon 5, Cahilig 4, Calvo 2, Laput 0, Alolino 0, Gabayni 0, Ganuelas-Rosser 0, Balagasay 0, Celda 0.
Quarter Scores: 33-25, 58-37, 71-61, 105-83.