PBA: Magnolia ends ROS's hot run in crucial Tiaong tiff

Ian Sangalang continued his recent dominance in a crucial PBA Philippine Cup game in Tiaong. PBA Images

By Ivan Saldajeno

TIAONG--Magnolia escaped a huge second-half stand from Rain Or Shine to score a 108-102 win in a crucial PBA Philippine Cup game on Saturday night at the Tiaong Convention Center.

Despite the Elasto Painters picking it up offensively in the last 24 minutes, the Hotshots reasserted control of the game pitting two of the hottest teams this conference down the stretch.

Magnolia exploded for 38 points in the second quarter to open a 54-43 lead against ROS at halftime.

However, the Elasto Painters slowly turned things around in the second half, and a three-point play from Beau Belga forced an 82-all deadlock with 9:31 left in the fourth quarter.

A Joseph Eriobu triple sparked a huge 14-2 run that put the Hotshots back up, 96-84, with 6:36 left.

Within the said rally was Paul Lee's lone three in the game which was enough to make him the newest member of the PBA's 1,000 3-Pointers Club.

ROS still tried to rally back, but crucial baskets from Ian Sangalang and Mark Barroca as well as clutch free throws from Lee and Jed Mendoza helped ice the game for Magnolia.

"It was the grit and perseverance," coach Chito Victolero told Dugout Philippines after the win, adding that he was satisfied with the Hotshots' defense despite the high-scoring game since they held the Elasto Painters below their league-leading average of nearly 109 per game.

Sangalang led Magnolia, which moved up to 5-2 with its fourth straight win, with 25 points on 11-of-14 shooting, 12 rebounds, and three assists.

Barroca added 18 points, seven rebounds, and nine assists.

Adrian Nocum led ROS, which saw its five-game winning streak snapped and fell to 5-5, with 19 points, one rebound, two assists, and two blocks.

The defeat means that they will enter a 13-day break with their hopes of making the quarterfinals still uncertain.

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