MANILA, Philippines – Magnolia leaned on the usual suspects in the endgame to squeak past Converge, 105-93, for its first win in the PBA Governors’ Cup at the Araneta Coliseum on Friday, August 23.
Veterans Ian Sangalang and Mark Barroca knocked down key baskets late as the Hotshots averted a colossal collapse and bounced back from a season-opening 99-94 loss to Meralco to raise their record to 1-1 in Group A.
Magnolia looked set for a blowout as it built a lead as big as 89-68 and enjoyed a 97-80 advantage with just four minutes remaining before the FiberXers fought back behind a 13-1 blitz, highlighted by a pair of Kevin Racal triples.
Racal capped the rally with a corner three-pointer to pull Converge within 93-98, but Sangalang and Barroca sank a putback and a trey in consecutive possessions inside the final two minutes to restore order for the Hotshots.
Magnolia import Glenn Robinson converted a short stab for the final tally on the way to finishing with 28 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 steals.
Sangalang chalked up 14 points and 8 rebounds, Paul Lee tallied 14 points, 7 assists, and 4 rebounds, while Jerrick Ahanmisi added 14 points as he drained three four-pointers, the most by any PBA local.
Ahanmisi buried back-to-back four-point shots in the opening quarter then made his last one in the third period that gave the Hotshots a commanding 75-56 lead.
Calvin Abueva chimed in 10 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 steals in the win, while Barroca had 7 points, 6 assists, and 2 steals.
Magnolia avoided a second straight loss by putting the clamps on FiberXers import Scotty Hopson and guard Alec Stockton, who fired 46 and 21 points, respectively, in their 127-95 demolition of Terrafirma two days prior.
Hopson got limited to 26 points after missing 15 of his 27 shots, while Stockton scored just 3 points on a 1-of-6 shooting.
“We wanted to limit them under 100 points — our actual goal was 92 points. So we did a good job on the defensive end,” said Magnolia head coach Chito Victolero.
Racal supplied 17 points and 3 steals for Converge, which fell to 1-1.
Magnolia 105 – Robinson III 28, Ahanmisi 14, Lee 14, Sangalang 14, Abueva 10, Lucero 9, Barroca 7, Laput 2, Escoto 2, Balanza 2, Dela Rosa 2, Dionisio 1, Eriobu 0.
Converge 93 – Hopson 26, Racal 17, Andrade 11, Arana 10, Santos 6, Delos Santos 5, Nieto 5, Cabagnot 4, Winston 3, Maagdenberg 3, Stockton 3, Melecio 0, Caralipio 0, Ambohot 0
Quarters: 24-18, 48-41, 82-66, 105-93.
– Rappler.com
