Jan Ballesteros 6y

Magnolia goes 2-0 after drubbing of NorthPort

Philippines Basketball

Magnolia picked up its second win after drubbing NorthPort, 104-87, in the 2018 PBA Governors' Cup on Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Still without star player Paul Lee, the Hotshots methodically battered the Batang Pier on all fronts on the way to their second victory in as many matches.

Magnolia didn't need an explosive outing from import Romeo Travis with the locals stepping up. Mark Barroca wound up with team-high 20 points to go with three assists and five steals.

Rome dela Rosa had 17 points, while Travis came up with a double-double effort of 15 points and 22 rebounds.

Jio Jalalon put up an all-around performance that came with 13 points, four rebounds, eight assists, and two steals including some of the key baskets in the third period that kept NorthPort at bay.

NorthPort, meanwhile, continued to struggle in finding ways to make up for the absence of main man Stanley Pringle, whose stint with the national team could be extended if coach Yeng Guiao decides to include him in the lineup for the fourth window of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers this month.

The Batang Pier reeled to a third straight defeat in the season-ending conference.

Magnolia set the tone early and took a 27-17 lead after the opening quarter. They maintained the pace the rest of the way by exploiting NorthPort's miscues.

The Batang Pier wasted away possession after another. Magnolia made sure make them pay, scoring 41 points off NorthPort's turnovers 27 turnovers.

The Hotshots took the fight out of the Batang Pier in the fourth period. With under six minutes, Magnolia continued to share the ball and found Mark Barroca, who drilled in a triple that gave them a seemingly insurmountable 94-71 buffer.

A minute later, Rodney Brondial would muscle his way into the basket before Rome Dela Rosa's layup gave Magnolia a 29-point buffer, 102-73.

"It was a collective effort. Everyone did his share in order to get this win," Jalalon said.

Rashad Woods paced NorthPort with 25 points, six rebounds, and four assists while turning the ball over seven times in 45 minutes of play.

Paolo Taha added 22 points and five rbeounds. Joseph Gabayni and Jonathan Grey chipped in 10 markers apiece.

THE SCORES

Magnolia 104 - Barroca 20, Dela Rosa 17, Travis 15, Jalalon 13, Reavis 8, Simon 8, Herndon 8, Melton 4, Brondial 4, Ramos 3, Mendoza 0, Gamalinda 0, Pascual 0, Abundo 0.

NorthPort 87 - Woods 25, Taha 22, Grey 10, Gabayni 10, Tautuaa 9, Guinto 6, Javelona 3, Fortuna 2, Espinas 0, Arana 0, Flores 0.

Quarterscores: 27-12, 48-39, 75-62, 104-87.

EXTRA DRIBBLES

Jeric Fortuna returned to the PBA to play for his college coach and NorthPort mentor Pido Jarencio. He finished with two points, four rebounds, and the same number of assists.

With the PBA giving way for the fourth window of the FIBA world Cup qualifiers, Magnolia will have a 22-game rest before plunging into action anew.

NEXT GAMES

Magnolia - vs Phoenix on September 23 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum

NorthPort - vs Ginebra on September 5 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum

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