The Magnolia Hotshots are known as the PBA’s “intro boys” because of their penchant for starting strong in a conference before faltering down the stretch. But in the PBA Governors’ Cup, LA Tenorio and his wards are looking to flip the narrative on its head as they are gunning for a strong finish after a lackluster start that saw them lose their first two games in the tournament—a 98‑86 setback to the Phoenix Fuel Masters and an 89‑81 defeat to the Blackwater Bossing.
Magnolia stopped the bleeding with a commanding win against the Meralco Bolts but got ambushed by the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters to fall to 1‑3. Then, the turnaround began, with the Hotshots dominating Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, 88‑73, to spark a three‑game winning run before the league’s extended break.
Where Does Magnolia Stand at the Moment
The Hotshots are currently at 4‑3 and in sole possession of second place in Group B, just a game behind No. 1 Rain or Shine. It has been quite the turnaround for Magnolia, who looked headed for an abbreviated conference after going 1‑3 in their first four games. That slow start, though, looks like ancient history—especially with Magnolia winning its last three games by 15.3 points on average.
In short, the Hotshots are rolling, and they just might have the kind of momentum that could propel them to great heights—like a semis stint at the very least, or even a most improbable championship run.
What to Watch Out for When Magnolia Returns
At the very beginning of his coaching career, LA Tenorio has emphasized defense, and his Hotshots have responded this conference. In fact, they are winning mostly on the back of their defense and are the second stingiest team in the league behind only Ginebra, surrendering only 92.1 points per game. They are also fifth in opponent field‑goal percentage (43.9%) and eighth in opponent three‑point percentage (34.4%). Magnolia also surrenders the fewest rebounds (38.7) and fewest assists (17.1).
In short, that defensive tenacity is something to watch out for once Magnolia returns to action. It has been the Hotshots’ calling card this conference, and with nearly two months of sharpening, that defense could be even fiercer come October. That should bode well for a team that is second in field‑goal percentage (49.1%), first in three‑point accuracy (39.3%), and fifth in free‑throw percentage (74.8%).
Locals to Keep an Eye On
Zavier Lucero was having himself quite the conference before the break, putting up 15.1 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.3 blocks. There’s reason to believe the former UP Fighting Maroon will be even better after the break following his Asian Games stint with Gilas Pilipinas, where he showed he could keep up with the best of Asia.
Another Hotshot worth watching is point guard Jerom Lastimosa, who keyed Magnolia’s three‑game turnaround with a 17‑point, 5‑rebound, 6‑assist effort against Meralco and a 30‑point masterclass against Phoenix. For the conference, Lastimosa has been averaging 14.1 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 4.3 assists while shooting 51.5% from the field and 41.7% from downtown. He is also winning over Tenorio’s trust, and that could embolden the budding star even more.
Outlook
In recent years, strong starts have turned into poor finishes for Magnolia. This conference, the opposite could happen—a slow start could pave the way for a strong ending. With a tenacious defense and some above‑average shooting, the Hotshots can author a storybook conclusion to this conference, with the chance to either bring down a budding contender in the Converge FiberXers in the crossover quarterfinals, or get a measure of revenge against TNT Tropang 5G.
Indeed, the time is now to make it to at least the semifinals, and Lastimosa, Lucero, and the rest of the Hotshots might just be up to that task.
