Author: Bon Maddagan
On August 23, at the SAC, Magnolia Hotshots faced off against Converge FiberXers. The Hotshots used a fiery third quarter, scoring 34 points in 67% shooting to secure their first win in Group A.
Robinson and Magnolia Dominate Third Quarter to Secure Victory
Magnolia’s balanced offense was spearheaded by NBA veteran Glenn Robinson III, who tallied 28 points. Paul Lee contributed 14 points, 4 rebounds, and 7 assists, while Calvin Abueva chipped in 10. Abueva, who had a forgettable game against Meralco, made his presence felt early. After his team was down 14-18, Abueva would score 7 points to ignite a 10-0 run. Jerrick Ahanmisi, put an electrifying start to the game, hitting back-to-back four-pointers, he also hit another one late in the third, inflating his team’s lead by as much as 19. He finished with 14.
Meanwhile, for Converge, Scotty Hopson, who had a stellar PBA debut with 46 points, was limited to 26. Alec Stockton, who previously scored 22, struggled with foul trouble and ended with just 3 points. Kevin Racal was the lone bright spot for Converge, finishing with 17 points and 3 steals.
Magnolia’s offensive explosion and Converge’s uninspired performance allowed the Hotshots to build a comfortable lead, which grew to as much as 21 points in the fourth quarter. It was then that the Converge would be having enough. The men in white played with more urgency as BJ Andrade, drilled a three from the corner, cutting it to 14 (89-75) following a 7-0 run. The FiberXers would then make the game more exciting as they went on to trim the lead to just 5 (98-93) after Kevin Racal hit two important three-pointers. But Magnolia remained poised and Mark Barroca delivered a cold-blooded three to fend off the FiberXers.
The Scores:
- 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
*Photo Credit: PBA Images
