Ian Sangalang took over for Magnolia in his native province. PBA Media Bureau |
By Dugout Philippines
ANGELES--Magnolia held GlobalPort to two points on a lockdown defense in the last four minutes of the game and turned to Pampanga pride Ian Sangalang for the clutch offensives in scoring a 92-87 victory in their PBA Petron Blaze Saturday Special at the AUF Gym here.
Vernon Macklin, Rome dela Rosa and Mark Barroca also played key roles as the Hotshots notched a first win in the PBA Commissioner's Cup after a heartbreaking loss in their conference debut against the Phoenix Fuel Masters.
Blowing away a huge 16-point lead against Phoenix, the Hotshots made it sure to stay together all throughout versus the Batang Pier in a tight battle where no team led by more than eight.
A closing 9-2 run by Sangalang, Macklin and Paul Lee had the Hotshots handing the Batang Pier a second loss in four starts in the mid-season tourney.
Sangalang made five points at the finish to cap a 22-point game off the bench.
Macklin with 19 points and Dela with 14 were the two other Hotshots who scored in double figures. Barroca made his presence felt on his fine defensive job against GlobalPort main man Stanley Pringle.
With Barroca all over him, Pringle was held down to two charities in the last six minutes.
Magnolia also employed a tough team defense, forcing the Batang Pier to 23 turnovers and produced 21 points off those errors.
GlobalPort enjoyed the lead the last time at 85-83 on a three-point play by Sean Anthony before the Hotshots scored the next seven points of the game to surge ahead to stay at 90-85.
Then defensive stoppages by Barroca on Pringle in the final minute sealed their win.
Sangalang went 9-of-14 from the field and missed by two rebounds what could have been a double-double game.
The scores:
MAGNOLIA 92 - Sangalang 22, Macklin 19, Dela Rosa 14, Ramos 9, Lee 8, Barroca 7, Simon 6, Jalalon 5, Pascual 2, Herndon 0, Brondial 0.
GLOBALPORT 87 - Anthony 20, White 17, Pringle 14, Tautuaa 12, Javelona 9, Grey 5, Ara?a 4, Elorde 2, Flores 2, Guinto 2, Teng 0, Gabayni 0, Juico 0.
Quarterscores: 20-15, 37-37, 65-62, 92-87.
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