
The Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots continued their brilliant act in the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup.
The Hotshots collected their fourth straight win by dominating the Phoenix Fuel Masters, 118-99, on Saturday, April 26, in Zamboanga City.
They surely maximized the high of taking down all-Filipino favorites San Miguel Beermen in a thrilling overtime win in their previous game.
Mark Barroca, who just celebrated his birthday a day ago, made a triumphant homecoming in Zamboanga by putting up 18 points, six rebounds and five assists, highlighting a balanced attack from Magnolia members.
Big man Ian Sangalang fired a team-high 20 points at an efficient 9-of-11 clip.
Zav Lucero delivered a double-double of 17 points and 11 rebounds, while Paul Lee had 17, including three three-point makes.
James Laput also breached twin-digit scoring with 10 to go with five rebounds, while Peter Alfaro, who also hails from Zamboanga, had six markers.
A 67-53 halftime lead by the Hotshots was very much telling of the eventual lopsided win, fending off all efforts from the Phoenix side to come back into the game.
Kai Ballungay had a game-high 25-point output for the Fuel Masters, while RR Garcia, Barroca’s pal in Far Eastern University, who is also from the province, had a decent 22-point performance. (ABS-CBN News)
MAGNOLIA 118 — Sangalang 20, Barroca 18, Lucero 17, Lee 17, Laput 10, Dela Rosa 8, Ahanmisi 7, Abueva 6, Alfaro 6, Escoto 5, Lastimosa 4, Dionisio 0.
PHOENIX 99 — Ballungay 25, Garcia 22, Perkins 17, Tio 8, Soyud 6, Tuffin 5, Rivero 4, Camacho 4, Jazul 4, Manganti 4, Daves 0, Ular 0, Verano 0, Alejandro 0.
Quarterscores: 35-27, 67-53, 94-74, 118-99.