MAGNOLIA turned NorthPort’s missed chances in the endgame to gold and finally got the monkey off its back last night.
Rome Dela Rosa boomed in a clutch three-pointer with six seconds left, lifting the Hotshots to an 80-77 decision over the unbeaten Batang Pier for their first win in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Mall of Asia Arena.
NorthPort’s Kevin Ferrer botched two free throws that could have shattered a 77-all count with 27.8 seconds left, leading to Dela Rosa’s backbreaking trey from the left corner — his only points of the match.
Batang Pier veteran Arwind Santos’ last-gasp triple try missed its mark that sealed Magnolia’s big bounce back from a sorry 82-89 overtime loss to newcomer Converge last Friday and its breakthrough triumph after three games.
NorthPort absorbed its first defeat in the season-opening tourney following two straight wins, counting a 100-86 thumping of Terrafirma last five days ago.
Calvin Abueva wound up with a double-double of 23 points and 12 rebounds for the Hotshots, while Paul Lee, back after sitting out their first two outings due to back spasms, chipped in 12 markers, all from deep.
Aris Dionisio ably stepped up for Ian Sangalang (dehydration) with 12 and nine for Magnolia.
Hotshots coach Chito Victolero credited his charges’ grit and poise when it mattered most.
“It’s a close game again and actually consistent kami sa close games but the sense of urgency in terms of executing, in terms of consistency, the effort, the desire, and everything, I think nagawa naman namin,” Victolero said.
“Sabi ko nga wala akong questions, wala akong masasabi sa effort ng players even in our last two games but maybe it was about the breaks of the game in our last two games, maybe also in executing our plays in the end but now we did a good job executing on both ends especially down the stretch,” he added.
Magnolia took an early 40-23 spread in the second quarter and a 42-33 advantage at the half.
The Batang Pier battled back behind Santos and Robert Bolick and whittled the deficit to 55-57 heading into the payoff period.
A Bolick three-pointer gave NorthPort its last taste of the lead at 77-75, 53.5 ticks remaining.
Santos paced the Batang Pier with 18 points and 12 boards, while Roi Sumang and Jamie Malonzo had 15 markers each.
Bolick finished with 13.
