The Magnolia Hotshots remained unscathed in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup after keeping the gritty Titan Ultra Giant Risers at bay, 127-119, Friday evening at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
LA Tenorio thus remained undefeated in his PBA head coaching career, as Magnolia rose to 2-0.
Titan Ultra, meanwhile, limped to 1-2.
Zav Lucero powered the Hotshots with a monster double-double of 23 points and 17 rebounds to go with four assists in 36 minutes of play. Ian Sangalang chipped in 21 markers and five boards.
Magnolia was clinging to a four-point lead at the end of the third, 92-88, after a late jumper by Jeo Ambohot.
But 13 straight points by the Hotshots broke the game wide open, 105-88, with Mark Barroca and Sangalang leading the way.
A layup by Cade Flores finally put the Giant Risers on the board, 90-105, but the onslaught did not stop there.
The lead grew to as much as 21 points, 119-98, following a deuce by Javi Gomez-de Liano with 2:54 remaining.
While it looked like the game was all but over, Joshua Munzon and Von Pessumal tried to bring Titan out of the hole as they sliced the deficit to 12, 108-120, with 1:49 left.
But a dagger triple by Gomez-de Liano iced the game, as the eight-point spread at the end of the game was the closest the Giant Risers got to.
Barroca and Russell Escoto finished with 16 points apiece for Magnolia, while Gomez-de Liano and Jerom Lastimosa chipped in 14 and 13 points, respectively.
Munzon paced Titan with 28 points, six assists, three steals and two rebounds. Ato Ular backstopped with 17 points.