Magnolia strengthens playoff hunt with dominant win over Converge
At A Glance
- Magnolia strengthened its hunt for a playoff spot after dominating Converge, 106-94 to notch its second straight win in the PBA Season 50 Commissioner's Cup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo on Sunday, April 19.
Magnolia strengthened its hunt for a playoff spot after dominating Converge, 106-94, to notch its second straight win in the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo on Sunday, April 19.
The Hotshots flexed their height and heft advantage inside the paint as import Clint Chapman and Zavier Lucero spearheaded the team to the huge win that saw them led by as many as 20 in the second half.
Chapman posted 22 points, 14 rebounds and two blocks while Lucero added his own double-double of 17 points and 14 rebounds. Rome Dela Rosa provided support with 13 points while Jerom Lastimosa added 10.
Magnolia improved to a 4-4 record right in the middle of the standings with San Miguel which also owns a similar card.
Holding on to just 10-point lead, 74-64, at the start of the final frame, the Hotshots unloaded 10 unanswered points that established them the biggest lead at 84-64.
Magnolia was comfortably in control from that point as even when Converge cut the lead down to single digits at 75-84, the Hotshots simply had answers to every FiberXers run.
Juan Gomez de Liano paced Converge with 22 points while backcourt running mate Alec Stockton finished with 19 in a losing effort.
The FiberXers, after claiming just their second game last time out, were back in the losing column and slid to a 2-6 card.