Coach Chito Victolero reminded his players not to relax with any team in the ongoing season.
Magnolia then responded quickly to Victolero with a lopsided 105-83 win over Terrafirma on Friday to keep the solo lead with a 4-0 win-loss record in Season 46 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup at the Ynares Arena in Pasig City.
The Hotshots started so hot, cruising to an insurmountable 58-37 cushion at the half, before maintaining their big lead at the last two quarters to seal the deal.
“We talked about our defense. We want to respect this team, Terrafirma. That’s our proper mindset,” Victolero said. “We don’t want to relax, and the good thing was the players were able to adopt my teaching.”
Ian Sangalang, the pro league’s player of the week, piled up 18 points on 8-of-13 shooting from beyond the arc while Mark Andy Barroca added 16 points, six rebounds and five assists for Magnolia. Tenth pick overall Jerrick Ahanmisi scored all 15 points, including four triples, in the last quarter also for Magnolia.
Terrafirma, winless in three starts, couldn’t go within 61-69 late in the third period after the Hotshots were able to score nine an unanswered points in the payoff period. Magnolia established its biggest lead late in the game then at 103-76.
Calvin Abueva racked up 14 points and eight rebounds, while Jackson Corpuz tallied 12 points. Jio Jalalon registered 10 points and nine assists.
Sophomore Roosevelt Adams tried his best to carry Terrafirma to a victory, hitting nine of his 25 points in the payoff period in addition to his 11 rebounds and two steals. Juami Tiongson had 19 points and Aldrech Ramos contributed 10 points. But their best was not enough to overtake the Hotshots.
In the second game, TNT KaTropa outlasted Rain or Shine, 79-69, to stay unbeaten in two games.
Troy Rosario finished with 13 points and 14 rebounds while Roger Pogoy made 13 points to lead TNT to a 2-0 record. Rookie Mike Williams had a quiet debut of seven points and three assists .
Rain or Shine slid to 3-2 after suffering back-to-back losses.
Meanwhile, PBA Chairman Ricky Vargas confirmed to reporters that the games would possibly transfer to Lipa, Batangas from Pasig City beginning August 6 when the National Capital Region (NCR) reverts to the much stricter enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) lockdown.
“It’s a big possibility to play in Batangas,” Vargas said. “Our operations will go there if we are not allowed to play here in Manila. I am praying the games will go on. The PBA will continue.”
The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases on Friday placed NCR under ECQ from August 6 to 20.
Batangas, which became the practice venues of teams last month, is under general community quarantine.