Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 18) – The Magnolia Pambansang Manok Hotshots showed why they are the top seed in the PBA Governors’ Cup after demolishing the Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters, 127-88, in their quarterfinals tussle on Friday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Paul Lee erupted for Magnolia with 27 points on a 70% shooting, where he scored 20 in the first half and tied his career-high in points in the first 24 minutes of a game.
Hotshots guard Mark Barroca added 18 markers, while import Mike Harris and Jio Jalalon each scored 15 points to help their squad book a semifinals berth.
Magnolia flashed their dominance in the first quarter with a 34-20 lead, as they got solid contributions from almost all players fielded by head coach Chito Victolero.
The lead of the Hotshots widened in each succeeding quarters from their outstanding shooting from all ends of the floor, where they shot half of their total field goals in the game.
The top seed Magnolia also led in second chance points (19-9), points from turnovers (23-20), bench points (57-30), and fastbreak points (15-0) to cap their mighty offensive showing in the quarterfinals.
The Hotshots also displayed a brilliant defensive performance after grabbing more rebounds (59-39), steals (12-9), and blocks (5-1).
“This is only half of the goal. The other half is in the semis and in the finals. We’re a step closer to our goals but we need to stay focused,” Victolero said during the post-game interview.
Magnolia will battle Meralco in the best-of-five semifinals, where they seek to follow up their five-game domination of the Bolts in the 2021 Philippine Cup semifinals.
De’Vaughn Maxwell played his final game as an import for Phoenix with 32 points while Jason Perkins contributed 11 markers.
The loss was the second lopsided defeat of Phoenix, behind their 123-79 loss also to the same squad (then named as Star Hotshots) during the 2016-17 Philippine Cup.
The Scores:
MAGNOLIA 127 – Lee 25, Barroca 18, Harris 15, Jalalon 15, Abueva 12, Sangalang 11, Wong 11, Dela Rosa 10, Dionisio 5, Ahanmisi 3, Reavis 2, Corpuz 0, Brill 0, Escoto 0
PHOENIX 88 – Maxwell 32, Perkins 11, Garcia 10, Wright 8, Jazul 7, Melecio 7, Robles 6, Pascual 4, Demusis 3, Porter 0, Manganti 0, Rios 0, Camacho 0
Quarterscores: 34-20, 66-46, 102-67, 127-88
