The 2024–25 PBA Philippine Cup continued on Wednesday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium with a double-header that featured the sole unbeaten team in the league—Magnolia Hotshots—going up against the defending champs. Here’s a recap of the action:
NLEX Drubs Terrafirma Behind Career-Games from Bigs
Brandon Ramirez and JB Bahio came away with career-best games to power the NLEX Road Warriors to a 117-87 demolition of the free-falling Terrafirma Dyip.
Ramirez fired a career-high 21 points on top of 4 rebounds, while Bahio reset his career-best with 17 markers to go along his 10 boards. Jayvee Mocon chipped in 13 points and 12 caroms, even as NLEX got big help from its bench, with Robbie Herndon scattering 15 and Kevin Alas and Enoch Valdez each putting up 9. The NLEX bench finished with 52 markers in all.
NLEX’s balanced attack help make up for Robert Bolick’s rather quiet offensive showing as he scored just 3 points on 1-for-8 shooting from the field. He did, however, corral 8 boards and dish out 10 dimes.
Kevin Ferrer scored 23 points for the Dyip, who fell to their sixth straight loss. Louie Sangalang continued to show out as well, registering 15 markers and 11 boards.
The scores:
NLEX (117) – Ramirez 21, Bahio 17, Herndon 15, Mocon 13, Alas 9, Valdez 9, Amer 7, Miranda 6, Semerad 6, Torres 6, Nieto 3, Bolick 3, Fajardo 2
Terrafirma (87) – Ferrer 23, Sangalang 15, Nonoy 11, Paraiso 10, Zaldivar 8, Pringle 7, Melecio 5, Catapusan 4, Ramos 4, Hernandez 0, Hanapi 0, Olivario 0
Up Next:
NLEX vs. Converge FiberXers on May 23 (PhilSports Arena)
Terrafirma vs. San Miguel Beermen on May 18 (Ynares Center – Montalbal)
Magnolia Dominates Meralco as Paul Lee Sizzles from Deep
Paul Lee fired 27 points anchored on a quartet of four-pointers to help the Magnolia Hotshots dispose of the Meralco Bolts, 117-92, to stay unbeaten through six games.
Lee rifled in three of his four-pointers in the fourth to as Magnolia extended its nine-point lead with a furious run to seal the game. Ian Sangalang helped out the cause with 16 points and 9 boards, while James Laput, Rome dela Rosa, and Zavier Lucero each chipped in 11. Mark Barroca and Peter Alfaro III narrowly missed out on breaching double-digits as they scored 9 apiece to highlight Magnolias’ complete team effort.
Chris Banchero led six Bolts in double-figures with 20, while backcourt mate Chris Newsome had 14. Raymund Almazan and Bong Quinto fired 13 apiece, but Meralco’s effort was not enough as it fell to 3-5.
The scores:
Magnolia (117) – Lee 27, Sangalang 16, Dela Rosa 11, Lucero 11, Laput 11, Barroca 9, Alfaro 9, Lastimosa 9, Abueva 8, Ahanmisi 4, Escoto 2, Dionisio 0
Meralco (92) – Banchero 20, Newsome 14, Quinto 13, Almazan 13, Hodge 10, Black 10, Cansino 8, Bates 4, Jose 0, Rios 0, Pasaol 0, Torres 0
Up Next:
Magnolia vs. Rain or Shine Elasto Painters on May 18 (Ynares Center – Montalban)
Meralco vs. Blackwater Bossing on May 21 (Ynares Center – Antipolo)
2024–25 PBA Philippine Cup Continues
The 2024–25 PBA Philippine Cup continues on Friday with a double-header at PhilSports Arena. The first game will feature the Converge FiberXers taking on the NorthPort Batang Pier, while the second game will be a tussle between Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and Phoenix Fuel Masters.
