For most of the game, Magnolia couldn’t shake off hard-fighting Titan Ultra, which repeatedly climbed out of double-digit holes.
But come the payoff canto, veterans Mark Barroca and Ian Sangalang made sure the Hotshots would finally land the KO blow.
With the two veterans sparking a 13-0 salvo to start the fourth, the troops of LA Tenorio secured a 127-119 win over the Giant Risers to take the lead in the PBA Philippine Cup at 2-0 last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Barroca and Sangalang, embracing their new roles coming off the bench, combined for 10 in that telling run that enabled the Hotshots to seize a 105-88 upperhand, which they later stretched to 119-98.
Sangalang finished with 21 while Barroca shot 16 with seven assists in backing up Zav Lucero, who dished out a 23-point, 17-rebound, four-assist performance in the follow-up to their 80-73 victory over Ginebra on opening night.
‘Vets are vets. Whether they get five, 10, 15 minutes, I know they will deliver,’ said Tenorio.
Later, Meralco unleashed a 33-14 closing barrage to defeat Ginebra, 89-75. The Bolts improved to 2-2 off a 0-2 start while sending the Gin Kings to 1-2.