Enough of playing catch-up basketball?
Coming from behind in the elims, in the quarters and in the semis, the Magnolia Pambansang Manok Hotshots broke the pattern in the 2019 PBA Philippine Cup finale, taking the opener against the San Miguel Beermen, 99-94, Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Magnolia's core group, led by Paul Lee and Ian Sangalang, played a balanced game and bucked June Mar Fajardo's hulking numbers as the Hotshots gained the head start in the best-of-seven title series.
The Hotshots go for the 2-0 advantage in Game Two set at 7 p.m. Friday also at the Big Dome.
Ian Sangalang had a baby double-double of 17 points and 12 rebounds compared to Fajardo's 35 markers and 21 boards, but the Magnolia center had the last laugh in their battle.
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"June Mar is unstoppable. He's really dominant every game, but I stayed positive, just did my job, at medyo na-contain ko naman siya in the crucial part," said Sangalang.
The former San Sebastian stalwart knew well it's just the start of the series but it would already be a different story if they could make it 2-0 on Friday.
"We'll continue to trust each other. Kapag nakabunot pa kami ng isa, ibang usapan na ito; magiisip na sila na kaya namin sila i-stop," said Sangalang.
For the record, the Hotshots have just pulled a second win over the Beermen in their last 12 meetings in the all-Filipino tourney.
And it would be recalled, that the Beermen won the next four games after dropping the opener in last year's Philippine Cup finals.
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Magnolia repeated its Game One triumph last year on the gritty efforts of Sangalang, Lee (18 points), Mark Barroca (17), Jio Jalalon (16), Rafi Reavis (12 points and nine rebounds), and Justin Melton (11 markers).
Jalalon, who scored 16 points off the bench, struck hardest in the third period, coming through with the buckets that gave them their biggest leads of 10 at 78-68 and 80-70.
But the clutch hits at the finish came from Sangalang and Lee, including a perimeter shot from the former and two free throws from the latter that sealed their win at 99-94 with 17 seconds to go.
At 94-97, the Beermen had three tries from the arc to even up but failed to connect, and thus Fajardo's huge game went down the drain.
From 79-88 down, Fajardo scored all of their next 15 points to rally the Beermen to within one at 94-95.
The Hotshots, however, kept their poise and will power, and salvaged the well-fought battle.
The two teams figured in a high-scoring game early on with the Hotshots taking the first quarter at 34-30, then the Beermen racing ahead at 55-52 at the half. (SB)
The scores:
MAGNOLIA 99 - Lee 18, Sangalang 17, Barroca 17, Jalalon 16, Reavis 12, Melton 11, Ramos 4, Dela Rosa 4, Pascual 0, Brondial 0, Simon 0.
SAN MIGUEL 94 - Fajardo 35, Cabagnot 18, Santos 13, Pessumal 11, Romeo 8, Ross 5, Ganuelas-Rosser 2, Standhardinger 2, Nabong 0, Lassiter 0.
Quarters: 34-30, 52-55, 80-73, 99-94
