Hotshots up and running
CLOSE IN ON LEADERS WITH ROUT OF DYIP
Games tomorrow (Cuneta Astrodome) 4:30 p.m. – Alaska vs TNT KaTropa 7 p.m. – Meralco vs Rain or Shine
Magnolia stoked the fire of its 10386 rout of Alaska Milk Saturday and pulled off another big win on a 109-83 drubbing of Columbian Dyip to close in on the frontrunners in the PBA Governors Cup eliminations at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last night.
Back in the groove, the Hotshots scored their first successive wins since their Governors Cup title run and thus wheeled into strong playoff contention in the all-Filipino tourney with a 3-4 win-loss card.
Ian Sangalang, Mark Barroca, Rome dela Rosa and Aldrech Ramos led the way as the Hotshots got on a streak heading to their keenly awaited match with the Barangay Ginebra Kings Sunday also at the Big Dome.
“I think we’re peaking at the right time, and we’ve got our rhythm back in time for our game against Ginebra,” said Magnolia coach Chito Victolero.
“Both teams are properly motivated, and it’s a good matchup that is awaited by the fans. It will be a good game,” Victolero also said.
Picking up from where they left off in their rout of the Aces, the Hotshots were even more dominant in crushing the Dyip and in stalling Columbian’s playoff bid.Columbian suffered a sixth loss in 10 starts.
The Hotshots were a determined bunch opening a 17-point spread right in the opening quarter and staying in command all throughout in a wireto-wire victory that lifted the team notches up to seventh place.
The NLEX Road Warriors stayed focused on the task at hand even on the ejection of coach Yeng Guiao, and rewarded themselves with a 91-70 rout of the Alaska Milk Aces in the nightcap.
But despite the win, the Road Warriors remained in a precarious spot at 3-5, needing to sweep their last three games to get a shot at the playoffs. The Aces are slightly ahead at 3-4.
NOTES: PBA commissioner Willie Marcial and the PBA board are joining the SBP top brass in their Shenzhen trip for the drawing of lots Saturday to determine the groupings for the FIBA World Cup in China in September. PBA board chairman Ricky Vargas leads the group that flies out of Manila today while Marcial heads the delegation leaving tomorrow. The scores: First Game Magnolia 109 – Sangalang 16, Barroca 14, Dela Rosa 12, Ramos 10, Jalalon 9, Brondial 9, Pascual 8, Reavis 7, Melton 6, Lee 6, Simon 5, Gamalinda 4, Herndon 3, Abundo 0, Calisaan 0.
Columbian 83 – McCarthy 19, Perez 14, Corpuz 12, Camson 9, Khobuntin 6, Faundo 5, Calvo 5, Reyes 4, Gabriel 4, Cahilig 4, Agovida 1, Escoto 0, Cabrera 0, Celda 0. Quarterscores: 22-12, 48-38, 75-57, 109-83 Second Game NLEX 91 – Quiñahan 14, Galanza 14, Rios 10, Erram 9, Ighalo 9, Tiongson 8, Soyud 8, Tallo 8, Paniamogan 3, Porter 3, Baguio 3, Magat 2, Lao 0, Varilla 0.
Alaska 70 – Teng 23, Potts 13, Enciso 8, Thoss 6, Pascual 5, Baclao 4, Cruz 3, Banchero 3, Exciminiano 2, Galliguez 2, Ayaay 1, Andrada 0.
Quarterscores: 24-18, 50-36, 74-57, 91-70