The PBA continued on Saturday with an out-of-town game all the way down in Zamboanga City. In the end, the Magnolia Hotshots continued to flash superb form to continue their torrid start to the conference.
Magnolia, led by hometown hero Mark Barroca and the sweet-shooting Jerrick Ahanmisi, started off strong, racing out to a 35-27 lead behind a scintillating inside-out attack highlighted by back-to-back long balls from Ahanmisi—a triple and a four-ball.
The Hotshots then truly broke the game open in the second quarter with a stirring 20-5 blast that turned a 45-43 advantage to a 65-48 cushion. They continued their tear in the second half, at one point stretching the lead to as much as 107-79 early in the fourth.
Magnolia Gives Mark Barroca a Fitting Homecoming
Ian Sangalang fired 20 points to anchor Magnolia’s inside attack, while Barroca, who hails from Zamboanga, finished with 18 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists. Paul Lee and Zavier Lucero scattered 17 a piece even as the rest of the Hotshots contributed something positive to Magnolia’s complete game in front of their veteran leader’s hometown.
Kai Ballungay continued his spectacular play this conference with a 25-point, 15-rebound effort for the Fuel Masters, who also got 22 markers from RR Garcia. Jason Perkins added 17, but the Fuel Masters just couldn’t keep up with the in-form Hotshots.
With the win, the Hotshots have now won their first four games of the 2024–25 PBA Philippine Cup and are now at solo first in the standings, a game better than the San Miguel Beermen. Not coincidentally, Magnolia beat San Miguel in their high-profile clash early this conference.
The scores:
Magnolia (118) – Sangalang 20, Barroca 18, Lucero 17, Lee 17, Laput 10, Dela Rosa 8, Ahanmisi 7, Alfaro 6, Abueva 6, Escoto 5, Lastimosa 4, Dionisio 0, Balanza 0
Phoenix (99) – Ballungay 25, Garcia 22, Perkins 17, Tio 8, Soyud 6, Tuffin 5, Rivero 4, Manganti 4, Camacho 4, Jazul 4, Daves 0, Ular 0, Verano 0
Up Next:
Magnolia vs. Terrafirma Dyip on May 4 (Ynares Center)
Phoenix vs. TNT Tropang 5G on May 2 (Ynares Center – Montalban)
2024–25 PBA Philippine Cup Continues
The 2024–25 PBA Philippine Cup continues later today with a double-header at the Ynares Center in Antipolo. The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters will take on the Meralco Bolts in the first game, while the TNT Tropang 5G will go up against the Converge FiberXers in the main game.
