Calvin Abueva-less Magnolia torches Phoenix for back-to-back wins

Mark Barroca was solid on both ends of the court for the Hotshots. Dennis Acosta

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--Calvin Abueva's absence mattered only a little to Magnolia as the team romped Phoenix, 95-77, in their PBA Philippine Cup showdown on Friday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.

Abueva served his one-game suspension for his in-game antics against Barangay Ginebra on Sunday, but Mark Barroca and Aris Dionisio stepped up to lift the Hotshots past the Fuel Masters, who were obliterated early on.

Magnolia held Phoenix to only 43 points in the first three quarters--11 in the first period alone--to set up the blowout that even saw the former stretch its lead to as high as 27 points.

Both teams engaged in a shootout in the fourth quarter, but despite the Fuel Masters slightly taking the period, the Hotshots' huge lead was already too much to overhaul.

Barroca led Magnolia, which won its second straight game and third in its last four after a 0-2 start, with 21 points, five rebounds, six assists, and five steals.

Dionisio added a career-high 19 points on five triples, also a career-high, seven rebounds, one assist, one block, and one steal.

Jio Jalalon came just close to a triple-double with 15 markers, eight boards, and eight dimes alongside two steals, while Ian Sangalang completed a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds alongside one block and Jack Corpuz also made 14 markers with five caroms and one dime.

Javee Mocon made 19 points, making all of his seven shots inside the three-point line, six rebounds, two assists, and one steal for Phoenix, which fell to a three-way tie with Converge and NorthPort for eighth place at 2-3.

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