Magnolia def NorthPort, 129-109 [PBA S47 Govs’ Cup | Mar. 2, 2023]

In a night of routs, Magnolia came through with its own juggernaut on the way to claiming an outright playoffs berth.

Right after NLEX’s 142-125 blowout of Terrafirma marked by a career-best 44-point explosion from Don Trollano, the Hotshots carved out their own masterpiece, blasting the NorthPort Batang Pier, 129-109, for an automatic passage into the PBA Governors Cup quarterfinals.

A giant 40-point turnaround did it for the Hotshots as they bounced back from a loss to the Meralco Bolts the last time out.

They wiped out an early 10-point deficit at 17-27 and posted a lead as big as 30 at 80-50 in rising above .500 mark again at 5-4 in a tie with the Bolts.

“At first, frustrated sa mga misses, the body language was not there. Sa first six minutes, di pumapasok ang mga tira, at yung depensa naapektuhan na rin,” said Magnolia coach Chito Victolero.

“Mabuti na lang naka-recover, and we played good basketball from there,” Victolero added.

Antonio Hester, Mark Barroca, Rome dela Rosa, Calvin Abueva, Paul Lee and Aris Dionisio all scored at least 15 points each as the Hotshots cranked it up in the second quarter and all the way to the finish.