By NIKOLE JAVIER
Magnolia nailed its second win with a brutal mauling of bitter rival Ginebra, 118-88, in the 2023 PBA Governors’ Cup edition of their Manila Clasico on Sunday, Feb. 12, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
The Hotshots didn’t waste time as they went full throttle at the tipoff to snap Ginebra’s winning streak to three.
Returning import Antonio Hester showed the way for Magnolia before the 11,212 crowd on both ends of the court with 28 points to go along with a huge 18-rebound game while grabbing nine assists.
Calvin Abueva and Paul Lee both contributed 18 points in the morale-boosting win that turned out to be too painful for the Gin Kings.
It was the lopsided contest so far in the Manila Clasico series since the Invitational qualifying round which Ginebra won, 112-78, on July 11, 2003 at the Big Dome.
For Magnolia, it was its largest winning margin since a 118-87 rout of Rain or Shine last year.
And for Ginebra?
It was its worst defeat since a crushing 124-90 beatdown at the hands of NorthPort in Game 1 of their 2019 Governors’ Cup semis series.
The Hotshots raced to their biggest lead at 31 points in the fourth quarter on the way to victory.
“We’re very unselfish as a team. It’s all about competing and before the game sinabi ko lang sa kanila we need to enjoy the defensive battle. It’s the only chance against the elite team, a talented team like Ginebra,” said Magnolia head coach Chito Victolero.
Justin Brownlee paced Ginebra with a 22-point outing apart from posting seven rebounds and nine assists.
