WATCH: BPG interview with Jio Jalalon [Magnolia vs Rain or Shine | Dec. 19, 2021]

Magnolia knows Rain or Shine can play a mean defensive game, so the Hotshots decided to pay the E-Painters in kind.

It took a little longer than what coach Chito Victolero had wanted, but Magnolia still came away with a 109-98 victory Sunday to stretch its fine start in the PBA Governors’ Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Mike Harris notched 26 points, Calvin Abueva 18 points and nine boards and Jio Jalalon came off the bench for 14 points and 10 assists, but it was his Hotshots also executing on the other end of the court that pleased coach Chito Victolero as well.

“It started with our defense,” said Victolero. “We want to control the pace of the game. I told my players before this game na we need to have that mental toughness because we know this is (going to be) a very physical game.”

That familiarity over the same team it kicked out via a two-game sweep of their quarterfinals duel during the last Philippine Cup indeed served Magnolia in good stead as it easily followed up its 114-87 drubbing of Terrafirma during the Hotshots’ tournament opener last Wednesday.

Their second win on Victolero’s 200th game at the Hotshots’ helm also primed them up for their Christmas Day meeting with Ginebra.

The final count does not truly reflect how Magnolia took command for majority of the game. But only when the Hotshots started fully locking down on defense after giving up 31 points in the opening quarter.

“That’s not our defense,” said Victolero, whose charges then limited the Elasto Painters to just 17 points in the second period.