MAGNOLIA rebounded from a very bad second quarter to become back-to-back winners for the first time in the PBA Philippine Cup with a come-from-behind 107-93 decision over Phoenix Super LPG Sunday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The Hotshots gave up 39 points to the Fuel Masters in the second period but limited the latter to only 36 in the entire second half to pave the way for their follow up to a 104-97 conquest of NorthPort last Wednesday.
"We had a serious talk at halftime. We allowed them to score 39 points in the second quarter and that's not us. I think that's the worst defensive quarter for us," noted Magnolia coach Chito Victolero.
"So I told them we were outhustled and outworked in the second quarter. We did a very good job in the first quarter, but in the second we all chilled."
Indeed, those points were the most given up in a quarter by Magnolia since allowing TNT to scatter 40 in the opening frame of their 2021 Philippine Cup finals.
Sponsored content:
The Fuel Masters practically did have their way in the second period, enabling it to raze the Hotshots' early 37-16 lead and post as much as a 55-44 spread before settling for a 57-47 cushion at the half.
"We talked about it... about our effort in the first half and it helped a lot," related Victolero.
In the end, Mark Barroca finished with a career best-tying 27 points and Ian Sangalang played a second straight solid game with 23 points and nine boards, but it was the unlikely duo of Joseph Eriobu and Abu Tratter who provided most of the spark in the second half.
Eriobu scored all 11 of his points in the second half and Tratter all of his eight as Magnolia grabbed a 79-77 edge at the end of the third period. The two also conspired for 10 points in a 12-2 run starting the fourth frame that pushed the Hotshots irrevocably ahead at 91-79 before their starters came back in and padded the lead to as much as 103-85.
The win jacked Magnolia's record to 3-2 while dropping Phoenix to a 2-5 slate.
Sponsored content:
In what is his best game yet in the tourney, RJ Jazul finished with 21 points with Kenneth Tuffin adding 17. Jason Perkins chipped in 16 points but was sidelined for most of the second half due to foul trouble.
With Javee Mocon joining the fray, Phoenix seemed unstoppable in its second quarter roll that saw coach Jamike Jarin's charges go 14-of-20 from the field, including a scorching 8-of-13 from beyond the arc, before falling prey to Magnolia's revitalized tenacity in the second half. (NC)
