Magnolia blasts Blackwater for winning start in PBA on Tour
Magnolia announced its entry to the win column in the PBA on Tour in the loudest way possible, blasting away Blackwater, 117-83, at the Ynares Arena in Pasig City on Sunday, May 28.
Everyone seemed to be on page for the Hotshots as eight players scored in double-figures with Barroca and new acquisition Abu Tratter setting up the tone in the first half breakaway where Magnolia exploded for 68 points while limiting the Bossing to a measly 30 points at the half. Barroca, Tratter and reserve Jerrick Ahanmisi led the balanced attack with 14 points each while seldom-used James Laput flexed his wares after a rare extended playing time with a double-double of 12 points and 12 rebounds. All of the players fielded by head coach Chito Victolero scored in the contest with Aris Dionisio and Paul Lee adding 12 and 11 points while 3x3 star Joseph Eriobu chipped in 10. It was a great show of force for the Hotshots considering that most of its key players in the likes of Calvin Abueva and Jio Jalalon are still out as they recover to injuries while Ian Sangalang is still slowly getting himself in shape after missing out on most of the Magnolia games last conference. Magnolia looked in fine form in its first game in the pre-season establishing a commanding 31-19 lead at the end of the opening frame. The Hotshots turned their game even a notch higher in the second quarter, this time, displaying their signature suffocating defense that limited the hapless bossing to just 11 points while unloading 37 on the offensive end. The fight was basically from there as even when Blackwater got into some kind of offensive groove in the second half, the lead was just too big to overcome for the Bossing with guys like Dionisio, Laput and even Ahanmisi still pouring it on in the offense. James Sena paced Blackwater with 11 points while Rashawn McCarthy and RK Ilagan added 10 apiece as the Bossing absorbed its first loss after opening its campaign with a win over NLEX.
*Abu Tratter impresses in his first game as part of Magnolia (PBA Images)
*Everyone seemed to be on page for the Hotshots as eight players scored in double-figures with Barroca and new acquisition Abu Tratter setting up the tone in the first half breakaway where Magnolia exploded for 68 points while limiting the Bossing to a measly 30 points at the half. Barroca, Tratter and reserve Jerrick Ahanmisi led the balanced attack with 14 points each while seldom-used James Laput flexed his wares after a rare extended playing time with a double-double of 12 points and 12 rebounds. All of the players fielded by head coach Chito Victolero scored in the contest with Aris Dionisio and Paul Lee adding 12 and 11 points while 3x3 star Joseph Eriobu chipped in 10. It was a great show of force for the Hotshots considering that most of its key players in the likes of Calvin Abueva and Jio Jalalon are still out as they recover to injuries while Ian Sangalang is still slowly getting himself in shape after missing out on most of the Magnolia games last conference. Magnolia looked in fine form in its first game in the pre-season establishing a commanding 31-19 lead at the end of the opening frame. The Hotshots turned their game even a notch higher in the second quarter, this time, displaying their signature suffocating defense that limited the hapless bossing to just 11 points while unloading 37 on the offensive end. The fight was basically from there as even when Blackwater got into some kind of offensive groove in the second half, the lead was just too big to overcome for the Bossing with guys like Dionisio, Laput and even Ahanmisi still pouring it on in the offense. James Sena paced Blackwater with 11 points while Rashawn McCarthy and RK Ilagan added 10 apiece as the Bossing absorbed its first loss after opening its campaign with a win over NLEX.