MAGNOLIA translated its desire into game and beat TNT 106-98 last night for its breakthrough win in their PBA Philippine Cup finals duel at the Don Honorio Ventura State University Gym in Bacolor, Pampanga.
Paul Lee awoke from his veritable playoffs stupor with 21 points while Ian Sangalang filled up the stats sheet with 20 points, seven rebounds, five assists and four blocked shots as the Hotshots weathered the Mikey Williams storm to whittle their deficit in the best-of-seven series to 1-2.
“Of course, our goal every game is to win,” said Magnolia coach Chito Victolero when asked if his team’s pride was stirred by their 70-88 and 105-93 losses in the first two games.
“May mga instances na masama laro or hindi kami in one page, it happens. Lahat naman kami may pride,” added Victolero. “We just want to win, compete every single game. No matter what iyan, elims, quarters, that’s your goal, to win.”
That was clearly visible in a game where, unlike in the first two games, Magnolia got off to a 7-0 start and mainly held on despite Williams’ gallant efforts.
The fourth pick overall in last March’s draft finished with a game-high 39 points anchored on 10 triples that made him the latest rookie with most three-pointers in a game. Those 3s were also the most in a finals game and his total output is the most by a rookie since Tanduay’s Eric Menk had 42 in a loss to Shell in the 1999 edition of the same tourney.
To think Magnolia’s defensive ploys were centered mainly on containing the well-traveled 29-year-old NBA G-League veteran.
“Actually, sobrang talented ni Mikey. Credit sa kanya. Na-challenge buong team sa kanya.
Parang nabuhay siya para umi-score talaga,” said Lee, who went into the game averaging just 12 points on a tepid 33 percent clip but wound up this time making half of his 14 shots.
“Kumuha lang ako ng motivation kay Mark (Barroca). Nakita ko kung paano lumaban si Mark,” said Lee, referring to the team veteran who played despite a sore hamstring.
Barroca finished with 16 points, just ahead of fellow reliever Calvin Abueva’s 14 markers.
Sadly for TNT, only RR Pogoy (14 points) and Poy Erram (10) were able to complement Williams’ scoring, enabling Magnolia to take control for majority of the match.
After trailing by 14 in the third canto and by 18 early in the payoff period, the Tropa got to within 80-77, with 33 seconds to go. thanks to Mikey Williams’ hot shooting.
Magnolia, though, was quick to shrug off the threat with Barroca, Rome Dela Rosa and Sangalang applying the finishing touches through the stripe.
