DEFENSE IS KEY Hotshots clamp down on Fuel Masters for 2nd straight win
Magnolia turned in a huge second half effort to frustrate a shorthanded Phoenix, 107-93, and make it two in a row in the 2024 PBA Philippine Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Sunday, April 14.
After getting torched by the Fuel Masters’ hot shooting from deep in the first half, the Hotshots clamped down on the defensive end in the last two quarters while stars Mark Barroca and Ian Sangalang took care of business on the offensive end to turn things around.
Nursing a wrist sprain on his shooting hand, Barroca was surprisingly on target for Magnolia with career-high tying 27 points while Sangalang sustained his stellar performance with 23 points, nine rebounds and four assists.
More than the two’s offensive brilliance, it was the stifling defense of the Hotshots that turned the tides to their favor after limiting Phoenix to just 36 points in the last two quarters.
It was a huge improvement defensively for Magnolia which allowed Phoenix to explode for 39 points, highlighted by eight triples in the second frame. The Hotshots trailed by as many as 11 points during that stretch before the wards of head coach Chito Victolero finally made the necessary adjustments in the second half.
Magnolia already regained control of the contest at the end of the third frame and further stepped on the gas pedal in the final frame when they went on a searing 17-3 run to suddenly build a comfortable 16-point lead, 86-70.
The Hotshots notched their first win streak of the conference to improve to a 3-2 record while sending the Fuel Masters to a 1-5 slate.
Magnolia also got solid contributions from Jio Jalalon and Joseph Eriobu who chipped in 13 and 11 points, respectively.
It has been a rough conference so far for Phoenix which has been missing the services of some of its key players in Tyler Tio, Sean Manganti and RR Garcia due to their respective injuries.
RJ Jazul, who led the Phoenix’s hot shooting in the first half, paced the Fuel Masters with 21 points, built on five triples. Ken Tuffin added 17 points and had three treys while Jason Perkins contributed 16.