Magnolia Hotshots Extend Dominance With Convincing Win Over Depleted San Miguel Beer

The Magnolia Hotshots continued their unstoppable run in the PBA On Tour as they cruised to a commanding 94-65 victory over a severely short-handed San Miguel Beer team at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig on Sunday.

Calvin Abueva made his long-awaited debut in the preseason series, presented by Arena Plus and sponsored by Bingo Plus, and immediately made his presence felt. Abueva displayed his trademark intensity on the boards, grabbing an impressive 16 rebounds with nine points in just 19 minutes of play. His energy and rebounding prowess played a crucial role in the Hotshots’ dominant performance, inching them closer to completing a clean sweep of their On Tour assignments.

While their top guards, Paul Lee and Mark Barroca, struggled with their shooting, the rest of the Magnolia roster stepped up to compensate. James Laput delivered a double-double performance, contributing 21 points and 11 rebounds. 

Abu Tratter also made his presence felt with 11 points and 11 rebounds. Jerrick Ahanmisi and Jio Jalalon also provided double-digit outputs, scoring 13 and 11 points, respectively. Lee and Barroca failed to find their rhythm, going a combined 0-of-10 from the field, but the Hotshots showcased their depth and resilience to overcome the shooting woes.

The Hotshots capitalized on their advantage when facing a San Miguel Beer squad missing key players such as June Mar Fajardo, Marcio Lassiter, Moala Tautuaa, Chris Ross, Vic Manuel, Terrence Romeo, and CJ Perez. Magnolia’s dominance was evident throughout the game, outscoring San Miguel Beer by a staggering 27-0 in fastbreak points and controlling the boards with a 61-33 rebounding advantage.

For the Beermen, Jericho Cruz, Rodney Brondial, and Allyn Bulanadi were the lone bright spots, each reaching double figures in scoring with at least 10 points.

The Hotshots showed no mercy as the game progressed, extending their lead in the fourth quarter with a blistering 28-9 run to seal the resounding victory.

With their win, the Magnolia Hotshots continue asserting dominance in the preseason series. Despite stellar outings from their star guards, their well-rounded performance highlights their depth and ability to step up in crucial moments. On the other hand, San Miguel Beer fought valiantly despite missing key players, but the disparity in manpower proved insurmountable.

As the PBA On Tour series unfolds, Magnolia’s formidable presence and unwavering determination make them a force to be reckoned with. San Miguel Beer will look to regroup and bounce back stronger in their upcoming games.

The boxscores:

Magnolia Chicken Timplados 94 – Laput 21, Ahanmisi 13, Tratter 11, Jalalon 11, Abueva 9, Eriobu 9, Mendoza 7, Corpuz 5, Dela Rosa 4, Murrell 3, Barroca 1, Lee 0.

San Miguel 65 – Cruz 15, Brondial 12, Bulanadi 10, Faundo 9, Dela Cruz 8, Baclao 5, Lee 2, Apacible 2, Lazarte 0.

Quarterscores: 24-14; 48-35; 66-56; 94-65.