Magnolia Hotshots Dominate TNT Tropang Giga For 5th Straight Win

The Magnolia Hotshots showcased their dominance once again as they steamrolled the TNT Tropang Giga with a resounding 96-63 victory in the PBA On Tour at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig on Friday night, June 16. 

Despite resting Paul Lee, the Hotshots maintained their flawless record, securing their fifth consecutive win of the preseason series.

After a slow start, Magnolia found their rhythm and outplayed the Tropang Giga in the last three quarters. Their earlier triumphs over Blackwater (117-83), Converge (99-95), NLEX (103-97), and Ginebra (91-80) solidified their status as a formidable force in the preseason competition.

On the other hand, the Tropang Giga suffered their third consecutive loss in the preseason series. They were missing key players such as Jayson Castro, Mikey Williams, Kelly Williams, and Poy Erram, among others, contributing to their struggles.

Rome dela Rosa, Joseph Eriobu, Mark Barroca, James Laput, David Murrell, and Jerrick Ahanmisi spearheaded the Hotshots’ charge, leading the way to a decisive 28-13 run in the second quarter that initiated their dominance. They maintained their momentum throughout the third quarter and intensified their attack in the fourth quarter, closing the game with a commanding 31-11 run.

Dela Rosa led the scoring for Magnolia with 19 points, while Laput impressed with an impressive double-double performance, contributing 11 points and 13 rebounds. Eriobu made a significant impact off the bench, adding 14 points, while Barroca, Ahanmisi, and Murrell each chipped in with 11 points.

Although Ian Sangalang struggled to find his shooting touch, going 0-of-2 from the field, he made valuable contributions in other areas of the game, grabbing seven rebounds and recording one steal in his 20 minutes of action. Calvin Abueva, Aris Dionisio, and Russel Escoto remained sidelined due to various reasons.

Glenn Khobuntin emerged as the leading scorer for the Tropang Giga, showcasing his shooting prowess with three three-pointers and a total of 23 points. However, his efforts were not enough to overcome the relentless onslaught from the Hotshots.

Magnolia’s victory further solidified their status as one of the teams to beat in the preseason series. With their impeccable record and dominant performances, they have established themselves as a force to be reckoned with.

As the preseason series progresses, the Hotshots will look to maintain their momentum and continue their winning streak. Their collective efforts, balanced scoring, and suffocating defense have proven to be a winning formula thus far, and they will aim to carry this success into the 

upcoming regular season.

The boxscores:

Magnolia 96 – Dela Rosa 19, Eriobu 14, Ahanmisi 11, Murrell 11, Barroca 11, Laput 11, Mendoza 8, Corpuz 5, Jalalon 4, Reavis 2, Sangalang 0.

TNT 63 – Khobuntin 23, Cruz 11, Varilla 10, Marcelo 8, Ganuelas-Rosser 6, Cuntapay 3, Gallego 2, Tungcab 0, Jopia 0, Alfaro 0.

Quarterscores: 18-15; 43-31; 65-52; 96-63.