MANILA – Magnolia Hotshots cruised to solo first place in the 2018 PBA Governors’ Cup after a 116-103 victory over TNT KaTropa on Friday night at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
Ian Sangalang led the way with conference-high 28 points, Andy Mark Barroca added 21 markers, while Paul Lee and Romeo Travis had 19 and 18 points, respectively, for the Hotshots (8-2).
Holding to a 33-30 lead at the end of one, the Hotshots created distance from the KaTropa in the second period with baskets from Sangalang, Lee and Barroca for a 62-48 halftime lead.
The KaTropa attempted to keep it close in the third but the Hotshots pulled away anew with Barroca waxing hot from outside and Sangalang converting from the inside for their biggest lead in the game 85-67.
Terrence Romeo made baskets as the KaTropa rallied to within 11 markers in the fourth but the Hotshots quickly answered with shots from Lee and Jio Jalalon for a 116-99 advantage.
Romeo finished with 23 points, Jeth Troy Rosario added 21 markers, while Marqus Blakely had triple-double 17 points, 18 rebounds and 11 assists for the KaTropa, which lost their last two matches to drop to a 4-6 card.
NLEX OVER ALASKA
In the first game, J.R. Quiñahan drained 10 of his 15 points total in the overtime period as NLEX Road Warriors got back on the winning track with a 116-110 win over Alaska Aces.
The Road Warriors jumped to a 105-101 lead in the extension period with Aaron Fuller completing a 3-point play and Quiñahan draining a triple. The Aces responded with a 7-2 run to take a 108-107 lead on a Jvee Casio trey.
After a layup by Chris Banchero, the Aces clung to a 110-109 edge but Quiñahan swung the lead back to the Road Warriors with a triple before he sealed the win with four free throws.
Fuller finished with double-double 42 points and 22 rebounds, while Michael Miranda and Philip Paniamogan had 10 points each for the Road Warriors (5-5). Mike Harris had 35 points and 22 boards for the Aces (7-3)./PN
