by Jonas Terrado
Magnolia rode on a torrid first quarter shooting and clobbered Alaska Milk, 100-84, at the start of the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
With almost everybody contributing a little of everything, the Hotshots took a 24-14 lead at the end of the first quarter which they wisely and valiantly protected to take the opener of their best-of-seven title series.
The Hotshots even padded their lead to as many as 18 points in the second quarter which Paul Lee capped with a buzzer-beating three.
The Aces tried as hard as they can to mount a rally but the Hotshots had an answer each time they threatened to launch one.
Magnolia’s defense was rock-solid that Alaska’s top gun Vic Manuel was thrown out of his comfort zone which the Hotshots took full advantage to hike their lead to 20 points early in the payoff period.
The Aces managed to cut Magnolia’s lead down to eight (84-78) on a completed three-point play by Mike Harris and a basket by Chris Banchero but it proved to be the closest they could come as Mark Barroca scored five straight points, including a corner three, to end the threat.
GUIAO MULLING TO TAP BLATCHE
Gilas head coach Yeng Guiao is not ruling out the possibility of tapping naturalized player Andray Blatche anew when the Philippines bids to revive its hopes in the sixth window of the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers in February next year.
