IF MAGNOLIA Ang Pambansang Manok needed a tough game in preparation for a big match-up, it sure got one from Blackwater.
The Hotshots got stretched to the limit by the Elite before carving a 78-72 win Friday in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Mall of Asia Arena.
It was the fifth straight win and sixth in seven games in all for Magnolia Ang Pambansang Manok, pushing it above erstwhile co-leader and defending champion San Miguel Beer, which the former meets Sunday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
"A win is a win," was how Magnolia coach Chito Victolero philosphized the triumph, notwithstanding the scrambling manner it was fashioned.
Victolero also admitted his team has a lot to work on going to the SMB game. "Medyo mabigat, but no excuses," he said.
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"We'll just try to find ways to beat SMB on Sunday. Medyo mahirap nga lang," Victolero added. "Kailangan naming mag-regroup siguro. Proper mindset at huwdag naming isipin na pagod kami. Kailangan lang mag-ready kami for tomorrow's practice."
The loss was the fourth straight and fifth in seven outings for Blackwater. But not after making Magnolia sweat in buckets.
The Elite grittily fought on from an early 18-point deficit and, behind Mac Belo and the Hotshots going silent over a five-minute span, even got to draw level at 74-all, still 1:07 remaining.
It's just that Blackwater once again failed to find any winning line at the end, more so after Ian Sangalang snapped Magnolia Ang Pambansang Manok out of its doldrums with a jumper.
A turnover by Belo himself, John Pinto's missed fastbreak layup and Allein Maliksi capping a sorry fourth quarter with a flubbed triple try ultimately thwarted Blackwater, helped along by charities from Jio Jalalon and Justin Melton.
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Aldrech Ramos and Mark Barroca each scored 14 points for Magnolia Ang Pambansang Manok, which had to make do without Paul Lee, nursing a high sprain on his left ankle.
Marc Pingris scored only four points but hauled down a team-high 12 rebounds and issued a game-best eight assists.
Belo finished with 25 points, 19 of those in the second half. Maliksi still wound up with 17, but struggled in the final frame where he shot only 1-for-8 from the field.
Still, Blackwater gave itself a chance when Belo scored 10 straight points that brought the team back to within 64-70.
Ramos' baseline jumper pushed the lead back up to eight, but put backs by JP Erram and Maliksi moved the Elite even closer before Belo scored on a drive and an eight-foot jumper to tie it all up.
Over that period, Magnolia missed all four of its shots and committed as many turnovers.
Sangalang came to Magnolia's rescue, however, scoring on his own inside jumper before harassing Belo into a backing violation, sparking Blackwater's downfall. (NC)
The scores:
MAGNOLIA HOTSHOTS 78 - Ramos 14, Barroca 14, Melton 8, Sangalang 8, Pascual 7, Jalalon 6, Simon 6, Dela Rosa 6, Pingris 4, Herndon 3, Reavis 2, Gamalinda 0, Brondial 0.
BLACKWATER ELITE 72 - Belo 25, Maliksi 17, Cortez 8, Erram 6, Jose 4, Pinto 3, DiGregorio 2, Marcelo 2, Sena 2, Sumang 2, Palma 1, Cruz 0, Javier 0.
Quarter scores: 23-13, 42-29, 61-54, 78-72.
