New Magnolia Hotshots import Jabari Bird against Rain or Shine Elastopainters defenders during a PBA Governors’ Cup quarterfinals game. –PBA IMAGES
SANTA ROSA, Laguna — Magnolia tore Rain or Shine to shreds on Friday night, 121-69, to level their PBA Governors’ Cup best-of-five quarterfinal series to a game apiece.
The Hotshots went on a tear in the second period, playing splendid basketball and even more impressive defense that held the ElastoPainters to just five points to build a cushion that held up until the final horn at Sta. Rosa Multi-Purpose Sports Complex here.
SCHEDULE: 2024 PBA Governors’ Cup quarterfinals
New import Jabari Bird erected 22 points and plucked down 13 rebounds for Magnolia, which turned in the most lopsided victory of the import-laden showcase.
“We just stuck with our identity, and that’s what’s important for us—that this is a defensive team,” said coach Chito Victolero, whose charges will try to take control of the race this Sunday at Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
“We need to win another two. This boils down to a best-of-three,” he went on.
READ: PBA: Rain or Shine survives Magnolia to take quarterfinals Game 1
Calvin Abueva put up 18 points and 10 rebounds as four more locals finished with at least 11 points each in the blowout.
Adrian Nocum and Felix Lemetti finished with 13 and 11 points, respectively, as the ElastoPainters struggled to cope with the untimely benching of import Aaron Fuller, who hurt his left eye during Magnolia’s 32-5 blistering second period.