Magnolia Pambansang Manok spoiled the debut of San Miguel Beer’s new import Shabazz Muhammad and came away with a 104-87 victory Sunday, Feb. 27 to tighten its grip on top spot in the PBA Governors’ Cup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
Paul Lee and import Mike Harris led the charge with 26 points apiece as the Hotshots ran roughshod on the Beermen to pick up their seventh win in eight outings while officially clinching a spot in the quarterfinals.
The Hotshots also got back on winning track after a 103-101 loss to the NorthPort Batang Pier last Thursday put an end to their unbeaten start in the season-ending conference.
Coach Chito Victolero lauded his team for being able to display a resolve to atone for that defeat while also trying to neutralize Muhammad, who came in as a replacement for Orlando Johnson.
Muhammad did show his NBA pedigree, scoring his first basket on a breakaway dunk before finishing with 27 points and 17 rebounds.
“Talagang wala kaming scouting report dun sa player nila. Maganda lang dito sa amin is we’re willing to adjust during the game so we tried to give him yung parang iba-ibang depensa,” he said.
Lee went 9-of-16 from the field including four triples while adding five rebounds, five assists and two steals even as Harris grabbed 13 rebounds for the Hotshots.
Mark Barroca added 12 points, eight rebounds and nine assists, Aris Dionisio also scored 12 and Jio Jalalon contributed 10 points, seven rebounds and five assists.
San Miguel lost after back-to-back wins and fell to a share of fifth place with Barangay Ginebra at 5-4.
CJ Perez had 18 points and eight rebounds and Vic Manuel made 16 points, four rebounds and two blocks for SMB.
The scores:
MAGNOLIA 104 — Lee 26, Harris 26, Barroca 12, Dionisio 12, Jalalon 10, Sangalang 9, Corpuz 4, Wong 3, Reavis 2, Escoto 0, Ahanmisi 0.
SAN MIGUEL 87 — Muhammad 27, Perez 18, Manuel 16, Lassiter 11, Fajardo 6, Tautuaa 5, Romeo 4, Ross 0, Enciso 0, Brondial 0
Quarters: 25-23, 57-44, 81-62, 104-87.