By ADRIAN STEWART CO
Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots rode in a torrid second quarter shooting before holding off NorthPort Batang Pier, 129-109, in the 2022-2023 PBA Governors’ Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Thursday night, March 2.
Antonio Hester led the way with double-double 28 points and 18 rebounds, while Andy Mark Barroca chipped in 21 markers as the Hotshots secured a playoffs seat with their 5-4 win-loss slate.
Rome dela Rosa also made his presence felt for the Hotshots with 19 markers off the bench, while Calvin Abueva, Aris Dionisio and Paul Lee had 18, 15 and 13 markers, respectively.
After trailing by double-digits in the opening quarter, the Hotshots waxed hot in the second quarter behind Hester, Abueva, Dionisio, and Barroca to build a lead as high as 30 points in the third quarter.
However, the Batang Pier answered with a huge run as they trimmed the deficit to as low as 13 points at 81-94, but timely shots by Barroca, Abueva and Dela Rosa brought the Hotshots’ lead back to 23 points at 124-101.
Kevin Murphy finished with 31 points, six rebounds and six assists, Robert, Jr. added 30 markers, while Joshua Munzon contributed 11 points as the Batang Pier dropped to 2-7.
In the first game, Celedonio Trollano was scorching in the third quarter as NLEX Road Warriors cruised to a 142-125 victory over Terrafirma Dyip. The Road Warriors rose to 7-3, while the Dyip slumped to 2-7.
The former Adamson University Falcons guard dropped 24 points in the third canto, including five three-point conversions, as the Road Warriors turned their 66-54 lead to a 110-87 spread.
Trollano was well defended in the fourth quarter as he managed just a triple, but his NLEX teammates Wayne Selden Jr., Kevin Alas and Philip Paniamogan took care of the scoring to preserve the win.
Trollano finished with a career-high 44 points, including nine outside conversions, Selden contributed 38 points, while Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser and Kevin Alas had 19 and 15 markers, respectively, for the Road Warriors.
MAGNOLIA 129 — Hester 28, Barroca 21, Dela Rosa 19, Abueva 18, Lee 16, Dionisio 15, Escoto 7, Jalalon 3, Mendoza 2, Reavis 0, Ahanmisi 0, Wong 0, Zaldivar 0, Corpuz 0.
NORTHPORT 109 — Murphy 31, Bolick 30, Munzon 11, Calma 9, Chan 8, Taha 6, Tolentino 4, Salado 4, Zamar 3, Sumang 2, Santos 0, Caperal 0, Balagasay 0.
Quarterscores: 31-31, 73-47, 98-84, 129-109./ASC, WDJ