IAN Sangalang and Zavier Lucero had the last laugh as they powered Magnolia to an 83-71 win over Converge and its own twin towers Wednesday in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
Sangalang and Lucero each had 18 points and combined for 14 rebounds while acting as the spearhead of a pivotal fourth quarter surge that fully pulled the Hotshots away from the FiberXers' clutches and into their second win in as many games.
The 2-0 start was the first for Magnolia since it opened up last season's Commissioner's Cup with seven straight wins and first in the import-less conference since its 2021 edition, when it went 4-0.
Winning coach Chito Victolero refuses to look that far ahead, maintaining what's more important is for his players to continue doing what they first did in a 104-86 domination of Blackwater, which is to do what they could whenever fielded in.
"That's the preparation," said Victolero, who utilized 13 players this time after using 15 against the Bossing.
Sponsored content:
"We want to have fresh legs every time," explained Victolero. "We want our veterans, like Mark (Barroca) and Paul (Lee) to have fresh legs para down the stretch we'll have good execution."
Arana notched a second double-double with 14 points and as many rebounds while Baltazar did his part with an 11-13 stat line. Yet those proved insufficient as Converge fell to a 1-2 slate.
Sangalang, 33, said he treated it as a challenge to go up against a pair of front liners who are at least five years younger than him.
"Nirespeto ko lang sila. Kasi, 'yung dalawang iyon hindi na bata sa laro. Kung hindi mo sila i-re-respeto kakainin ka ng buong-buo."
Russel Escoto also was a big boost with 11 points and so was Rome dela Rosa, who scored seven of his nine points in the fourth period in helping Magnolia break off from a 65-60 count and into its first 12-point lead at 78-66.
Sponsored content:
"The other guys helped us a lot," noted Victolero. "Credit to all the players because they embraced kung ano man ginagawa namin ngayon."(NC)
