MAGNOLIA deserves a big hand for completing a big-time comeback against a fast-starting Phoenix side yesterday.
Getting their acts together in the second half, the Hotshots frustrated the Fuel Masters 107-93 for their second straight win in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.
Joseph Eriobu, Abu Tratter, and Jio Jalalon received resounding cheers from the Magnolia faithful and high-fives all around when they were taken out of the duel with 7:43 to go in the fourth canto.
For good reason–they were just some of the keys in the Hotshots’ rally from an 11-point second quarter deficit and helped the squad of coach Chito Victolero erect a 91-79 spread when they were subbed out.
Victolero said his charges were sleepwalking early on, but timely pep talks from his brain thrust and San Miguel Corp. sports director Alfrancis Chua galvanized them to act.
“We had a serious talk in the first half. We allowed them (Fuel Masters) to score 39 points in the second quarter and that’s not us,” Victolero said. “It was the worst defensive quarter for us based sa huli kong pagkakatanda.
“I told them we were outhustled and outworked in the first half. We did a good job in the first quarter but in the second quarter, we chilled. We talked about it–our effort in the first half,” he added.
Foremost among those who stepped up for Magnolia was veteran playmaker Mark Barroca, who sizzled with a career-tying high 27 points and four assists.
Ian Sangalang did his share, winding up with a rebound shy of a double-double with 23 markers, nine boards, and five dimes, while Jalalon and Eriobu chipped in 13 and 11, respectively.
Tratter finished with eight points and five caroms as Magnolia did an encore to a 104-97 triumph over NorthPort five days ago and rose to 3-2.
The loss added to Phoenix’s woes in the season-ending tourney after it failed to sustain the grit it showed in a 113-107 victory over winless Converge last Friday and slipped to 2-5.
A Kenneth Tuffin layup gave the Fuel Masters their biggest edge (55-44) with 1:02 to go before the break.
Phoenix settled for a 57-47 advantage at the halfway mark before Magnolia grabbed the driver’s seat 79-77 going into the final stanza.
From there, it was all the Hotshots, who enjoyed leads by as much as 103-85 on a Barroca three-pointer in the last 3:41.
RJ Jazul showed the way for the Fuel Masters with 21 points and five feeds, while Tuffin added 17 and four.
Jason Perkins and Javee Mocon also got 16 and 11 markers, respectively, for Phoenix.
