By Adrian Stewart Co
Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots survived Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings’ late rally to escape with an 89-84 win in the 2022 PBA Philippine Cup on Sunday night at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Leading by as much as 14 points in the third quarter, the Hotshots were stunned by a huge fourth quarter rampage by the Kings to tie the score at 82-all on an inside hit by Christian Standhardinger.
Aris Dionisio and Jiovani Jalalon came to the rescue for the Hotshots with back-to-back inside hits to make it 86-82 but Standhardinger answered with an inside shot to cut the deficit to 84-86.
Rome dela Rosa gave the Hotshots a little separation with a three-pointer from the corner. The Kings still had opportunities to come close but suddenly unloaded airballs from the outside.
Ian Sangalang led the way with 24 points and nine rebounds, while Jalalon contributed 19 markers and six assists as the Hotshots avoided falling on the cellar with its 2-3 win-loss slate.
LA Tenorio top-scored with 15 points, Earl Scottie Thompson added 13 markers and eight rebounds, while Standhardinger, Prince Caperal and Arvin Tolentino had 12, 11 and 10 points, respectively, for the Kings, which dropped to 2-1.
In the first game, RJ Jazul showed that he was a thorn on the side of his former team Rain or Shine Elasto Painters by steering Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters to a 106-102 victory.
After seeing their once 18-point lead trimmed to 87-86, Jazul drew a foul from Painters’ Jewel Ponferrada that resulted in three free throws followed by another three-point basket to make it a 93-86 spread.
Phoenix widened the lead to 100-90 on free throws by Matthew Wright and Jason Perkins but Rain or Shine made its last push to cut the deficit to 100-103 with under a minute left but a three-pointer by Jazul sealed the victory for the Fuel Masters.
Jazul, who started his career with the Rain or Shine franchise, finished with 25 points, including six triples, while Wright and Perkins chipped in 20 and 17 markers, respectively, for the Fuel Masters.
BOX SCORE:
MAGNOLIA 89 – Sangalang 24, Jalalon 19, Abueva 9, Corpuz 9, Wong 7, Dela Rosa 7, Laput 6, Barroca 6, Dionisio 2, Escoto 0, Ahanmisi 0.
GINEBRA 84 – Tenorio 15, vbvvThompson 13, Standhardinger 12, Caperal 11, Tolentino 10, J. Aguilar 9, Pringle 6, Chan 4, Pinto 4, Mariano 0.
Quarterscores: 26-21, 47-40, 70-61, 89-84./ASC, WDJ
