Magnolia fights back, equalizes semis series with TNT at 1-1

Magnolia leaned on the clutch plays of Ian Sangalang and Mark Barroca to turn back TNT, 92-88, in the semifinal round of the PBA Season 47 Philippine Cup Friday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

Barroca scattered 16 of his team-high 22 points in the second half while Sangalang drained two clutch baskets as the Hotshots survived a Mikey Williams-led fightback in the payoff period to pull even at 1-1 in their best-of-seven series.

“Ang sabi ko lang naman sa kanila is we have to go back to our defensive mentality,” said Magnolia coach Chito Victolero during the post-game presser with the winning coach and best player of the match.

“We were limiting to under 84 points ‘yung mga kalaban namin but the last time, they scored 108 points. Malayo sa average namin. But now, we did a good job especially in the first half,” he added.

Sangalang finished with 20 points while Calvin Abueva added 18. Paul Lee and Rafi Reavis contributed 10 and 9 markers, respectively.

Williams led the Tropang Giga charge with 28 points while Jayson Castro and Poy Erram added 17 and 13 points, respectively. Roger Pogoy scored 11 while Troy Rosario chipped in 10.

Game 3 is set on Sunday, August 7, 4:30pm at the same venue.

The scores:

Magnolia 92 – Barroca 22, Sangalang 20, Abueva 18, Lee 10, Reavis 9, Wong 5, Jalalon 4, Dela Rosa 2, Laput 2, Dionisio 0.

TNT 88 – M. Williams 28, Castro 17, Erram 13, Pogoy 11, Rosario 10, K. Williams 6, Montalbo 3, Khobuntin 0, Alejandro 0, Marcelo 0, Ganuelas-Rosser 0.

Quarterscores: 18-12, 39-29, 69-58, 92-88.