MANILA – Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots moved closer to sweeping the 2023 PBA on Tour following a 111-91 beating of Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters last night at the FilOil EcoOil Arena in San Juan City.
Jiovani Jalalon top-scored with 22 points to go with nine assists, four steals and three rebounds, while Andy Mark Barroca added 19 markers as the Hotshots improved to 10-0 win-loss slate.
Aris Dionisio made his first appearance in the pre-season tournament to tally 15 points and eight rebounds, while Jerrick Ahanmisi had 11 points, including three triples, for Magnolia.
Clinging to an 82-80 lead early in the fourth quarter, the Hotshots got back-to-back three-pointers from Ahanmisi followed by a layup from Calvin Abueva to stretch the advantage to 91-82.
The Fuel Masters trimmed the deficit to seven with a Rodolfo Alejandro layup but connections from Joseph Eriobu, Barroca and Jed Mendoza allowed the Hotshots to pull away at 111-89.
Alejandro finished with 24 points, including six three-point conversions, Reden Celda chipped in 21 markers, while Larry Muyang had double-double 12 points and 10 rebounds for the Fuel Masters, which ended their campaign at 3-8.
In the first game, Rain or Shine Elasto Painters snapped Blackwater Bossing’s three-game winning run with a wire-to-wire 131-108 victory. The Painters stayed at second place with 8-2, while the Bossing dropped to third with 6-4 mark.
The Painters caught fire early behind Shaun Ildefonso and Rey Mark Belo for a 33-27 lead. The onslaught continued in the second period behind Andrei Caracut and Leonard Santillan to establish a 64-53 halftime lead.
Rain or Shine maintained their aggression in the second half with inside connections from Beau Belga and Santillan as the lead reached its biggest at 126-97 via a three-pointer from Caracut.
Santillan top-scored for the Painters with 24 points, including four triples, Caracut added 18 markers, while Gian Mamuyac, Ildefonso, Jhonard Clarito and Nicholas Demusis had 17, 12, 11 and 10, respectively.
BOX SCORE:
MAGNOLIA 111 – Jalalon 22, Barroca 19, Dionisio 15, Ahanmisi 11, Tratter 9, Eriobu 9, Dela Rosa 6, Mendoza 6, Laput 4, Abueva 4, Escoto 4, Corpuz 2, Murrell 0.
PHOENIX 91 – Alejandro 24, Celda 21, Muyang 12, Garcia 9, Mocon 8, Perkins 7, Camacho 4, Fetalvero 3, Rangel 3, Atienza 0.
Quarterscores: 28-18, 55-52, 78-71, 111-91./PN
