MANILA – Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots leaned on endgame brilliance of Andy Mark Barroca to beat the shorthanded Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings, 91-80, in the 2023 PBA on Tour last night at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
After seeing their 70-60 lead turned to a 74-all score via a furious fourth quarter run by the Gin Kings, Barroca carried the Hotshots scoring with five straight points followed by a triple from Jerrick Ahanmisi for an 82-76 lead.
The Gin Kings managed to cut the deficit to four points several times but back-to-back baskets from Barroca followed by a triple from Paul Lee and an inside hit from James Laput gave the Hotshots a 91-80 advantage.
Barroca finished the game with 20 points, including two three-point baskets, to go with five assists, three steals and a rebound as the Hotshots kept its untarnished record of 4-0.
Ahanmisi added 17 markers, with five outside conversions, while Jiovani Jalalon and Jackson Corpuz contributed 12 and 11 markers, respectively, and Laput had 12 rebounds and eight points for the Hotshots.
Raymond Aguilar led the way for the Gin Kings (0-2) with 22 points, rookie aspirant Kim Aurin chipped in 12 markers, while Nard John Pinto and Von Pessumal ended with 11 points each.
In the first game, Rain or Shine Elasto Painters maintained its unblemished slate after four games following a wire-to-wire 121-95 victory over Terrafirma Dyip, which dropped to 1-3.
The Painters opened the match with a 14-5 lead but the Dyip managed to cut the deficit to 24-26 before Rain or Shine pulled away in the second quarter behind Gian Mamuyac and Anton Asistio for a 65-47 lead at the half.
The Dyip got their shots to fall in the second half as they cut the deficit to 71-85 but the Painters leaned on consecutive points from Rey Nambatac and Rey Mark Belo to build their largest lead at 28 points.
Nambatac top-scored for the Painters with 21 points, including three three-point baskets, Mamuyac chipped in 16 markers, while Andrei Caracut and Shaun Ildefonso had 14 points each.
BOX SCORE:
MAGNOLIA 91 – Barroca 20, Ahanmisi 17, Jalalon 12, Corpuz 11, Mendoza 8, Laput 8, Lee 7, Sangalang 4, Dela Rosa 4, Murrell 0.
GINEBRA 80 – R. Aguilar 22, Aurin 12, Pessumal 11, Pinto 11, Gray 8, David 6, Mariano 5, Dillinger 3, Gumaru 2, Onwubere 0, Salcedo 0, Cu 0.
Quarterscores: 25-23, 44-38, 67-58, 91-80./PN
