Hotshots bounce back, secure quarters seat with win over Dyip
Magnolia’s journey in the PBA Season 48 Philippine Cup continues as they secure a spot in the quarterfinals after a hard-fought victory against Terrafirma, with a final score of 108-100 at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.
Ian Sangalang led the Hotshots with 23 points and eight rebounds, supported by Mark Barroca’s 21 points and Paul Lee’s 17 points. Their combined efforts proved vital in holding off Terrafirma’s comeback from a 15-point deficit.
In a crucial moment, Sangalang’s lay-up followed by Barroca’s three-pointer and floater extended their lead to 106-98 with just 51 seconds remaining. Paul Lee sealed the deal by sinking two free throws, securing a 108-98 victory with only seven seconds left on the clock.
“It happened na we had a bad game last game, so we just went to practice and moved forward,” said Magnolia head coach Chito Victolero.
“Because sabi ko nga kanina, ‘yung destiny namin, kontrolado pa naman namin. We just need to bounce back hard and get into the playoff mentality,” he added.
Rafi Reavis, at 47 years old, delivered a solid performance with 10 points and 13 rebounds, contributing to Magnolia’s success and ensuring their placement in the upcoming best-of-3 series as the third to sixth seeds.
Looking ahead, Magnolia aims to finish strong in their final elimination round matchup against TNT on May 5th at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Despite the impressive 32-point performance from Stephen Holt of Terrafirma, their season concludes at 5-6, leaving them in a precarious position for a potential playoff spot depending on the outcome of the remaining games.
Magnolia’s resilience in bouncing back from a previous defeat against Meralco demonstrates their determination and readiness to face the challenges ahead in the quarterfinals.
The scores:
Magnolia 108 – Sangalang 23, Barroca 21, Lee 17, Reavis 10, Eriobu 8, Balanza 8, Jalalon 7, Dela Rosa 5, Dionisio 5, Tratter 4.
Terrafirma 100 – Holt 32, Tiongson 14, Go 13, Gomez de Liano 13, Cahilig 9, Alolino 7, Carino 7, Sangalang 4, Ramos 1, Calvo 0, Camson 0.
Quarterscores: 28-16, 50-44, 80-71, 108-100.
