Dionisio waxes hot, helps Magnolia seize q’final seat

Sports

BANKING on the hot hands of Aris Dionisio, the Magnolia Hotshots repulsed the NorthPort Batang Pier, 100-94, and seized a quarterfinal slot in the 49th PBA Governors’ Cup on Friday night, September 20, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Dionisio made almost everything that he threw from the rainbow territory, sinking nine of his 11 three-point attempts to finish with 30 points as the Hotshots completed the quarterfinal cast in Group A.

Leading the quarterfinalists in Group A are the TNT Tropang Giga (7-2), who are joined by the Meralco Bolts (6-3), the Converge FiberXers (5-4) and the Magnolia Hotshots (5-4).

The final seedings will be determined at the close of the double-round-robin eliminations on Monday.

Magnolia and NorthPort played without their imports as the Hotshots’ Shabazz Muhammad sat out due to knee issues while the Batang Pier lost Venky Jois to ruptured Achilles tendon.

Aside from Dionisio, Magnolia had five other players scoring twin digits with Zavier Lucero scoring 16, Joseph Eriobu tallying 12, Calvin Abueva submitting 12 and Ian Sangalang chipping in 10.

Arvin Tolentino fired 25 points for NorthPort, which tasted its sixth defeat in nine games.

THE SCORES:

MAGNOLIA (110) – Dionisio 30, Lucero 16, Eriobu 13, Abueva 12, Sangalang 10, Lee 9, Dela Rosa 9, Barroca 7, Ahanmisi 4, Mendoza 0, Escoto 0, Balanza 0, Laput 0.

NORTHPORT (94) – Tolentino 25, Cuntapay 13, Jalalon 11, Flores 8, Amores 8, Munzon 6, Navarro 6, Onwubere 6, Tratter 4, Bulanadi 4, Taha 2, Nelle 1, Yu 0.

QUARTERSCORES : 29-13, 57-35, 83-61, 110-94.(CCM)