ANTIPOLO - Magnolia hammered out a wire-to-wire 90-80 disposal of Phoenix to tighten its hold of pole position in the PBA Commissioner's Cup Saturday night at the Ynares Center here.
The Hotshots took off to a flying start then fended off the Fuel Masters' second-half fightback to secure their seventh win in eight matches and stay ahead of second-running Bay Area (7-2) and Converge (7-2).
Six Magnolia stalwarts led by import Nick Rakocevic turned in double-digit production, aside from other vital aspects of the game, to power the team to a running two-game roll after sustaining a 103-97 setback to rival Barangay Ginebra last Oct. 23.
Rakocevic posted 18 points and the same number of rebounds while boosting the Hotshots' defensive efforts with his four steals and two shot blocks.
Calvin Abueva (15 markers and 12 boards), Jio Jalalon (12 points, nine assists), Mark Barroca (11), Paul Lee (10) and Ian Sangalang (10) complemented their hard-working Serbian-American import with heads-up performances.
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The Hotshots raced to a 21-10 start and held big leads that reached as high as 19 at 57-38. But Phoenix clawed back in, using a big 30-point third quarter anchored on Sean Anthony, and got to as close as seven at 83-76 with still seven minutes left.
However, Abueva and Jalalon responded big time and joined forces to create a bigger separation heading home.
"In the first and second quarters, our energy was much higher than theirs and that was the key to the good start," said assistant coach Jason Webb.
"But in the third, when we gave up 30 points compared to the 18s in the first and second quarters, they came up with a lot more energy. They really are a good third-quarter team. Good thing, our final group limited them to 14 in the fourth quarter and went back to our defensive identity."
Anthony, with 17, including 13 in the third period, led the way for Phoenix, which has now sustained back-to-back losses after their five-game run was snapped by Converge 132-127, last Wednesday. The Fuel Masters are 5-5 overall. (OL)
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The Scores:
Magnolia 90 - Rakocevic 18, Abueva 15, Jalalon 12, Barroca 11, Lee 10, Sangalang 10, Dela Rosa 8, Wong 4, Dionisio 2, Corpuz 0, Ahanmisi 0.
Phoenix 80 - Anthony 17, Jazul 11, Mocon 10, Wesson 9, Tio 7, Manganti 5, Rios 5, Perkins 4, Camacho 4, Garcia 3, Adamos 3, Robles 2, Pascual 0, Serrano 0.
Quarters: 27-18, 50-36, 76-66, 90-80.
