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[av_heading heading=’Magnolia Hotshots escapes Blackwater in PBA PH Cup’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
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February 3, 2018
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MANILA – Magnolia Hotshots came up with six straight points in the final minutes to score a 78-72 win over Blackwater Elite in the 2017-2018 PBA Philippine Cup last night at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
With the score tied at 72-all, Ian Sangalang surged the Hotshots ahead at 74-72 on a fall away baskets.
Following misses from the Elite, Jiovani Jalalon and Justin Melton came up with a pair of free throws to seal the win for the Hotshots.
Mark Andy Barroca and Aldrech Ramos came up with 14 points apiece to lead the way for the Hotshots, which has racked up its fifth straight victory to move up to solo first place with 6-1 win-loss slate.
“It was a very dangerous game for us because Blackwater was coming from a three-game losing streak,” said Hotshots head coach Chito Victolero. “We really expected them to come hard; good thing we were able to match their aggressiveness.”
The Hotshots had a blazing start behind Jalalon, Ramos and Peter June Simon for a 19-6 lead. It even went to its highest at 18 points in the second quarter on hits by Barroca.
The Hotshots were still up by double-figures in the second half when the Elite came up with a huge run behind former Hotshots Allein Maliksi, Rey Mark Belo and John Paul Erram to tie the count at 72-all.
Belo led the way with 25 points, with 22 coming in the second half, while Maliksi chipped in with 17 markers for the Elite, which has lost its last four games to drop to 2-5 win-loss card.
Meanwhile, action resumes at Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City today with Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings taking on NLEX Road Warriors at 5 p.m.
The Kings will be reinforced with the return of Gregory Slaughter and the acquisition of Prince Caperal from Kia Picanto./PN
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