WATCH: Post-game interview with Ian Sangalang and Coach Chito Victolero

Magnolia knew extra effort is needed to beat a team as tenacious as Rain or Shine.

Paul Lee and Ian Sangalang typified that resolve by lifting the Hotshots to an 81-70 win over the Elasto Painters Sunday at the start of their Philippine Cup quarterfinals duel at the Don Honorio Ventura State University Gym in Bacolor, Pampanga.

Lee scored 20 points, 14 of those in the fourth period, while Sangalang finished with 19 points and 13 points in complementing Magnolia’s defense that grew stingier as the game wore on.

“Pag di ka nagtrabaho di mo makukuha game na ito,” said Sangalang after the Hotshots gained the headstart in the best-of-three duel in emphatic fashion.

The explosion may not be as big as Lee’s 18 in the payoff period in the course of a 100-90 win over San Miguel Beer last week, but still plenty enough to help fend off the E-Painters’ counter led by Santi Santillan.

Santillan scattered 13 of his own team-high 17 points in the fourth but, unlike Lee, the rookie had little help and his efforts that included a team-high 12 boards went for naught.

Understandably, Magnolia coach Chito Victolero was pleased with his charges efforts that netted them a whopping 66-43 rebounding advantage, including 23-8 off the offensive boards.

Via
PBA
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