Magnolia makes it back-to-back wins

Sports

THE Magnolia Hotshots are starting to get hot, tallying a second straight win after routing the Meralco Bolts, 105-88, in the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup on Friday night, Aug. 8, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Fresh from a dominant 88-73 win over the Barangay Ginebra Kings, the Hotshots evened their record to 3-3 (win-loss) to move up to Top 4 in Group B.

The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters and Phoenix Fuel Masters occupy the No. 1 spot in Group B with identical 4-2 records while Magnolia is tied with the Blackwater Bossing for the third and fourth spots.

Magnolia took a slim 71-70 lead at the end of the quarter. The start of the fourth quarter was delayed for about 40 minutes due to the venue’s leaking roof.

The Hotshots were extra hot when play resumed, breaking the game wide open with a 19-4 attack for a big 90-75 lead.

Import KJ Buffen led Magnolia with 27 points. Jerom Lastimosa added 17 markers while Ian Sangalang collected 16 points and 10 rebounds.

Antonio Hester finished with 24 points while Jason Brickman had 19 for Meralco, which slumped to 2-5.

THE SCORES:

MAGNOLIA (105) – Buffen 27, Lastimosa 17, Sangalang 16, Lucero 10, Andrada 8, Lee 7, Dela Rosa 7, Barroca 7, Alfaro 4, Jopia 2, Koon 0.

MERALCO (88) – Hester 24, Brickman 19, Newsome 17, Cansino 15, Black 6, Quinto 3, Hodge 2, Banchero 2, Bates 0, Mocon 0, Rios 0.QUARTERSCORES: 22-29, 47-48, 71-70, 105-88.(CCM)