MAGNOLIA wanted to kick off its PBA Governors Cup campaign on a high note and Mike Harris and Co. made sure of that.
Harris marked his first game back in the country with a double-double of 30 points and 15 rebounds, leading the Hotshots to an emphatic 114-87 victory over Terrafirma yesterday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Calvin Abueva had his own double-double of 17 points and 11 boards while Paul Lee added 16 points as Magnolia poured it on from the second quarter on to lead by as much as 114-80.
His team hitting its immediate target obviously pleased winning coach Chito Victolero.
“Actually, iyan ang pinag-usapan namin, we want to start strong,” he said, before hinting they intend to not only reclaim the tournament crown but also better their runner-up finish in the last Philippine Cup.
“We want to send a message right away,” stated Victolero.
Victolero admitted there were some jitters brought about by the league’s return to the Big Dome but also playing before a live audience, however limited due to the health and safety protocols both league and coliseum officials have put into place, for the first time since opening day of March 8 last year
“Ang talagang worry ko lang is the rhythm and the timing,” related Victolero. “Kung makikita natin ‘yung first quarter medyo… halos lahat excited. But once we settled down ‘yung depensa namin gumanda, umayos.”
Sent crashing back to earth was Terrafirma, which was eyeing to follow up its breakthrough 112-106 overtime win over Rain or Shine last Saturday but instead slipped to 1-2.
Antonio Hester notched 21 points and eight boards while Juami Tiongson came off the bench to finish with 20 points. Even Alex Cabagnot chipped in 16 points but little support came from the rest of the Dyip.
There was still little doubt Magnolia would take this one, a scenario that became more feasible when it unleashed a 10-0 run to break away from a 15-all tie before Abueva’s last-second heave from before halfcourt went in to give the team a 46-35 halftime lead.
Despite losing terribly in the rebounding department Terrafirma kept within 46-54, but Lee strung up five straight points that sparked a sustained charge that gave Magnolia its first sizable lead at 74-53.
Led by Harris and Abueva, the Hotshots won the battle off the boards 57-35, leading to a plus-18 advantage in points in the paint and plus-15 in second chance points.
“I think we did a good job today,” said Victolero.
Meanwhile, Kevin Alas has been named the first recipient of the Cignal Play—PBA Press Corps Player of the Week citation this conference.
Living up to his surname, Alas served as the Road Warriors’ much-needed endgame ace in their feisty victories over San Miguel and Northport. The NLEX captain registered 16.5 points, 6.0 assists, and 4.0 rebounds including a bevy of heroic moments in those two big wins.
Against the beefed-up Beermen, Alas quarterbacked the Road Warriors’ drive with 12 points, eight assists, and four rebounds as they ran away with a 114-102 win in the opener at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
