TERRAFIRMA star big man Christian Standhardinger worked doubly hard to score on a putback off a missed three-pointer by Kevin Ferrer against Magnolia last night. It was typical of Standhardinger–powering his way to score in bunches.
At that point, the scoreboard read: 88-108. The Dyip trailed with 4:04 to go as they found no answer to the Hotshots’ offensive juggernaut led by Jerrick Ahanmisi.
Magnolia scored a 124-103 victory for an emphatic bounce back win in Group A action of the PBA Governors’ Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.
Blackwater clashes with winless Phoenix today while Ginebra takes on NLEX, both in Group B play, at the same venue.
The hapless Dyip were simply bundled out of the hardcourt by the Hotshots who came out with guns blazing despite the cold and damp weather that pleased Magnolia coach Chito Victolero no end.
Victolero lauded his charges for showing resolve after an 82-88 loss to the defending champion TNT Tropang Giga four nights back and improved to 2-2.
“I told them before the start of our preparation that in all our failures and setbacks, ang importante naman is how we will bounce back in the next game. They did very well tonight, especially with our strong start. We played our pace, and I think our defense dictated the game right away,” Victolero said. “Nahawa na lang iyong ibang players but in the second half medyo nag-relax din ng kaunti.
“That’s why I think Terrafirma scored more than 30 points in each quarter in the second half. I’m very happy. Iyong second half lang siguro medyo nag-relax lang ang mga bata.
But overall, I’m proud and happy,” he added.
Terrafirma, coming off a 91-107 defeat to an undermanned Meralco five last Wednesday, remained winless in four starts in the season-opening tilt.
Ahanmisi found his touch from 27-feet, knocking down four of his eight four-point tries and wound up with a game-high 24 points and two assists while import Glenn Robinson III added a double-double of 20 markers and 13 rebounds, to go with four dimes.
Four other Magnolia players hit double-figures led by Zavier Lucero (15), Ian Sangalang (14), Pau Lee (13), and Joseph Eriobu (12).
A Sangalang free throw gave the Hotshots their biggest lead at 60-22 at the 4:50 mark of the second quarter.
Magnolia held a commanding 63-32 spread at the half and hardly met resistance from there.
Stanley Pringle paced the Dyip with 23 points, six boards, and five feeds while Standhardinger had 22 and 12.
Rookie Paolo Hernandez also had 18 markers on three fours for Terrafirma.
