Magnolia Hotshots’ Joseph Eriobu grapples for the ball. –PBA IMAGES
MANILA, Philippines–Unbeaten Magnolia zoomed to its fifth straight victory following a 96-63 rout of TNT in the PBA On Tour on Friday at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
The Hotshots scored 31 points while giving up only 11 in the fourth quarter to complete the lopsided win that kept their impressive run of form almost halfway into the two-month exhibition series.
Rome dela Rosa was one of six players in double figures with 19 points as coach Chito Victolero got another strong showing from his Magnolia squad.
Dela Rosa shot 7-of-11 from the field and added six rebounds and two assists.
But among the keys to preventing the Tropang Giga from knocking on the door was Joseph Eriobu, who scored seven of his 14 points in the payoff period.
Jerrick Ahanmisi, David Murrell, Mark Barroca and James Laput added 11 points apiece, with the latter completing a double-double with 13 rebounds.
Paul Lee didn’t see action for the first time in the On Tour after averaging 12.8 points in the past four games while Ian Sangalang went scoreless while grabbing seven rebounds in his second game since returning from a long absence due to a thyroid issue.
TNT, reduced to a mixture of role players and the addition of four San Beda cagers, remained winless through three outings.
Glenn Khobuntin scored a game-high 23 points for the Tropang Giga.
A basket by Dave Marcelo cut the TNT deficit to 58-52, 1:34 to go in the third, but Magnolia scored seven in a row, ending on a three-point play by Eriobu, for a 65-52 lead entering the final canto.
The scores:
MAGNOLIA 96—Dela Rosa 19, Eriobu 14, Barroca 11, Laput 11, Ahanmisi 11, Murrell 11, Mendoza 8, Corpuz 8, Corpuz 5, Jalalon 4, Reavis 2, Sangalang 0.
TNT 63—Khobuntin 23, Cruz 11, Varilla 10, Marcelo 8, Ganuelas-Rosser 6, Cuntapay 3, Gallego 2, Tungcab 0, Jopia 0, Alfaro 0.
Quarters: 15-18, 43-31, 65-52, 96-63.