GINEBRA SUFFERS FIRST PBA LOSS

Magnolia, Phoenix outlast opponents

The Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots and the Phoenix Super LPG outlasted their respective rivals to improve their team standings in the resumption of the

 PBA Philippine Cup on Sunday, June 19, 2022, at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Magnolia escaped past a surging Barangay Ginebra rally despite Calvin Abueva’s ejection by hacking out an 89-84 win, thanks to Rome Dela Rosa’s crucial triple with only 1:45 left in the game.

The Ginebra Gin Kings tried to close the gap earlier with only two points behind the Hotshots, 84-86.

With the win, Magnolia (2-3) thus claimed its second win after five games but Ginebra (2-1) absorbed its first loss after three matches.

Ian Sangalang led the charge for the Hotshots, drilling in with 24 points and grabbing nine rebounds. His teammate Jio Jalalon chipped in 19 points with four rebounds, six assists, and three steals.

Abueva, who was ejected in the final 9:15 of the fourth canto following a second technical foul for unsportsmanlike behavior, accounted for nine baskets and eight rebounds. He was slapped with a technical foul for bumping and then confronting Ginebra guard Nards Pinto.

LA Tenorio, Scottie Thompson, and Christian Karl Standhardinger top-scored for the Gin Kings with 15, 13, and 12 points, respectively.

Meanwhile, the seasoned guard RJ Jazul-led Phoenix Super LPG held off Rain or Shine, 106-102, to clinch its second straight win in four outings.

Jazul exploded with 25 points including six treys as teammates Matthew Wright added 20 markers on top of six rebounds and six assists.

Jazul said, “Nagkataon lang na sinuwerte sa latter part saka I have to be composed… para hindi ma-rattle ang grupo (I just got lucky in the latter part and I had to be composed so the team won’t rattle).”

His three-point jump shot in the final 33 seconds took back the Fuel Masters’ lead at 106-100 after the Elasto Painters kept its hopes alive via fellow Letran alumnus Rey Nambatac’s triple cut Phoenix’s lead to three, 103-100. But the Fuel Masters snuffed out the light out of the Elasto Painters by sealing the match.

Nambatac sizzled for 27 points for a losing cause.

Games will resume on Wednesday, June 22, pitting Converge FiBerXers against Terrafirma Dyip at 3 p.m. and Ginebra against NLEX Road Warriors at 6 p.m.

Box Scores

Magnolia 89 – Sangalang 24, Jalalon 19, Abueva 9, Corpuz 9, Wong 7, Dela Rosa 7, Barroca 6, Laput 6, Dionisio 2, Escoto 0, Ahanmisi 0.

Barangay Ginebra 84 – Tenorio 15, Thompson 13, Standhardinger 12, Caperal 11, Tolentino 10, Aguilar 9, Pringle 6, Chan 4, Pinto 4, Mariano 0.

Quarters: 26-21, 47-40, 70-61, 89-84.

Phoenix 106 – Jazul 25, Wright 20, Perkins 17, Anthony 14, Muyang 11, Tio 7, Porter 4, Serrano 4, Mocon 2, Pascual 2, Garcia 0, Lalata 0, Rios 0, Melecio 0.

Rain or Shine 102 – Nambatac 27, Belga 15, Nieto 12, Caracut 12, Ponferrada 10, Santillan 9, Demusis 9, Asistio 3, Norwood 3, Torres 2, Mamuyac 0.

Quarters: 33-25, 54-45, 85-81, 106-100