 |
| KJ Buffen put up solid numbers to give Magnolia a winning streak. Peter Baltazar |
MANILA—It took a lengthy break between the third and fourth quarters for Magnolia to find its explosive touch.
The Hotshots sizzled in the final frame, which happened after a rain delay, to rip the Meralco Bolts 105-88 in their PBA Governors' Cup second-round meeting on Friday night at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Magnolia led by just one point 71-70 at the end of the third quarter before the heavy rainfall outside the arena caused a leakage at the roof, prompting the officiating crew to halt the game for nearly 40 minutes.
As the fourth quarter finally went underway, though, the team went on a 19-5 run to start the period and eventually finished the frame ahead 34-18 to seal the blowout.
KJ Buffen led the Hotshots, who now won back-to-back games after a 1-3 start to move up to 3-3, with 27 points, seven rebounds, and three assists.
Jerom Lastimosa added 17 points on 7-for-13 shooting, five rebounds, and six assists, while Ian Sangalang put up 16 points on 5 of 6 field goals, 10 rebounds, two assists, and one steal.
Antonio Hester led the Bolts, who fell to 2-5 with their fourth straight loss, with 24 points on 10-for-16 field goals, two rebounds, three assists, two steals, and one block.
