IAN Sangalang repaid the trust given him by Magnolia by answering the call when the Hotshots needed it most.
The veteran big man reset his career-best output in a 104-97 win over Northport that halted a two-game slide for the team in the PBA Philippine Cup Wednesday night at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Sangalang fired 32 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in a dominant game inside which somehow compensated for the various injuries hounding the franchise this conference.
The former NCAA MVP had 22 of his output scored in the second half on his way to registering a new career high that eclipsed his previous best of 29 points netted in a 105-103 win over San Miguel in Game 1 of the Philippine Cup finals in 2018.
Sangalang stressed he needed to step up as losing three in a row would have the Hotshots sinking into a 1-3 hole.
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"Our back is against the wall, natalo kami back-to-back. So mahirap matalo ng tatlong sunud-sunod," he said.
"Alam namin sa ligang ito kahit sino puwede kaming talunin. So siguro it's a wake-up call sa amin yung dalawang sunod na talo namin," Sangalang added, obviously alluding to Magnolia's losses to Barangay Ginebra and NLEX. "Thank God nakabawi kami kahit kulang kami sa tao."
Magnolia continued to be hampered by injuries to Rome Dela Rosa and Aris Dionisio due to sprained ankles, while guards Mark Barroca and Jio Jalalon are both playing through separate injuries.
Not a long while, Sangalang also faced uncertain health conditions after being diagnosed with hyperthyroidism that made him skip the entire Governors' Cup last season.
But the Hotshots stuck to him through thick and thin, according to coach Chito Victolero.
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"We all supported Ian, the coaching staff, the management, the players. We all prayed and supported Ian nung time na nandun siya sa mababang morale. Tinulungan namin siya, nag-pray, yun naman ang importante dun," said Victolero.
"Yun lang paunti-unti. I talked to him about it, na yung playing time niya unti-unti, hanggang sa nakabalik siya, nakuha niya yung kumpiyansa niya especially sa Finals (Commissioner's Cup) ang ganda ng contribution niya. So ngayon, tuluy-tuloy na."
Now that Magnolia is the one in need, Sangalang was there to come to the Hotshots' rescue.(RG)
