Magnolia with holds a counterattack from Blackwater
On Wednesday at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo, MAGNOLIA beat Blackwater 110-95, keeping its hopes of qualifying for the PBA Governors Cup alive.
The Hotshots have won three in a row thanks to clutch baskets from Calvin Abueva, Rome dela Rosa, and Antonio Hester, who all had great games. The Bossing came back strong, but the Hotshots held on for the victory.
Having finished the eliminations with a 7-4 record, Magnolia is currently waiting to see if they will be included among the top four teams, who have a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals, or if they will be included among the lower-ranked teams.
No matter where the playoffs take the Hotshots, coach Chito Victolero can rest assured that his team will be ready to turn up the heat
“The name of the game right now is controlling what we can. In that case, we can’t control what happens to the other teams. Whatever happens to us in the playoffs, at least we have a shot at making a real difference “, Victolero remarked.
“That’s the most crucial because we started the conference with a 0-3 record, and at that point, most people were wondering if we’d even make the playoffs. Even so, we’re 7-1 in our last eight contests. I’m pretty sure that character is complete and ready to go now “and Victolero admonished.
“To my mind, we’ve earned a spot in the postseason. In the event that we are given the chance and the opportunity, we will seize it no matter where we may be.”
Abueva’s 27 points and 13 rebounds were a highlight of an already unforgettable day. As early as the first quarter, he had already surpassed the eight-point threshold he needed to join the 5,000-point club, making him the 96th player in NBA history to do so.
Hester scored 22 points and grabbed 20 rebounds, Richard Escoto had 17 points and his best game of the season for Magnolia, and Jio Jalalon dished out 11 assists. With 14 total points, Dela Rosa had a great game.
Blackwater fell to 1-10 with its ninth straight loss, despite strong individual efforts from Shawn Glover (22 points), Jayvee Casio (20 points, 10 assists), and Baser Amer (16 points).
When it looked like the Bossing were going to be eliminated from the tournament and the season, Amer suddenly lit up the scoreboard with four triples, and Casio gamely took the cue and matched it with two of his own, bringing them within 89-95 after being down as many as 61-85.
However, Blackwater were unable to maintain said surge, and peace was quickly restored in the Magnolia camp when Dela Rosa and Abueva plotted a 10-2 surge that put their team up 105-91 with only 3:15 remaining. (NC)
The Result:
Abueva (27), Hester (22), Escoto (17), Dela Rosa (14), Lee (9), Dionisio (8), Barroca (6), Jalalon (4), Corpuz (3), Ahanmisi (0), and Wong (0) contributed to Magnolia’s 110 total.
Glover (22), Casio (20), Amer (16), Ular (12), Sena (6), Hill (6), Ayonayon (6), Ilagan (5), Suerte (2), Torralba (0), Rosario (0), and Banal (0) tallied 95 points for Blackwater.
Final Thoughts
The Magnolia vs. Blackwater game was a thrilling contest that highlighted the resilience and determination of the Magnolia team. They got off to a rough start in the conference, going 0-3, but finished with a strong 7-4 record. The victory against Blackwater was crucial in keeping their hopes alive of qualifying for the PBA Governors Cup.
Calvin Abueva was outstanding in this game, surpassing the 5,000-point threshold and joining the 96th player in NBA history to do so. Rome dela Rosa and Antonio Hester also played crucial roles, contributing greatly to the team’s success. Blackwater fought back hard, but they were unable to maintain their surge, and Magnolia was able to hold on for the victory.
Coach Chito Victolero and his team are now eagerly waiting to see if they will be included among the top four teams, who have a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals, or if they will be among the lower-ranked teams. Regardless, Victolero is confident that his team will be ready to turn up the heat and make a real difference in the playoffs.
Overall, it was an exciting game that showcased the talent and determination of both teams. Magnolia’s victory was well-earned, and they will undoubtedly be a team to watch in the upcoming playoffs. Speaking of the playoffs, have you considered placing your bets on PBA Governors Cup Betting? It’s a great way to add more excitement to the game and potentially win big!
Quarters: 32-20, 48-45, 87-66, 110-95
