MANILA – Magnolia Hotshots exacted its revenge on Philippine Cup Finals tormentor San Miguel Beermen with 118-82 annihilation in the 2019 Honda PBA Commissioner’s Cup last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
James Farr led the way with double-double 19 points and 18 rebounds, Andy Mark Barroca had 17 markers, while Jiovani Jalalon had 16 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds for the Hotshots, which improved to 4-2 win-loss slate.
Facing the Beermen for the first time since the Philippine Cup finals, the Hotshots surged to an 11-4 start behind Barroca and Farr. After SMB took a slim lead, Magnolia pulled away anew at 24-17 behind shots from Paul Lee and Rodney Brondial.
The Beermen were still hanging around at 24-26 in the second when the Hotshots went on a rally behind outside hits from Barroca and inside points from Jalalon and Jean Marc Pingris for a 52-38 halftime edge.
Magnolia put the fight away from the SMB in the second half with Barroca connecting consecutive outside shots and Farr and Ian Sangalang scoring inside for its largest lead at 38 points.
Charles Rhodes finished with double-double 20 points and 15 rebounds, while Christian Standhardinger also had double-double 16 points and 11 rebounds for the Beermen, which dropped to 2-4.
In the first game, Phoenix Pulse Fuel Masters halted NorthPort Batang Pier’s four-game winning run with a 97-87 beating and get back on the winning track with still a few games into the playoffs.
Trailing 19-28 early in the game, the Fuel Masters made a huge run behind RJ Jazul and Matthew Wright to make it a see-saw affair and with Phoenix clinging to a 64-61 edge heading into the fourth.
The Fuel Masters surged to an 81-66 lead early in the fourth on baskets from Richard Howell and Wright but the Batang Pier leaned on its outside shooting to come to as close as 87-90 before Phoenix iced the win with free throws from Wright and Jazul.
Wright waxed hot with 28 points, including four triples, while Howell had double-double 18 points and 15 rebounds for the Fuel Masters, which rises to 3-4 slate. Moala Tautuaa finished with 19 points for the 7-2 Batang Pier./PN
