ZAMBOANGA CITY - No stopping Magnolia's juggernaut.
Throwing a defensive wall on Phoenix and unleashing a ferocious inside-outside attack, the Hotshots clobbered the Fuel Masters, 118-99, to go 4-0 and stay atop the PBA Philippine Cup leaderboard Saturday night at the Zamboanga City Coliseum.
Hometown ace Mark Barroca put up a show before his kababayans and delivered 18 points, six rebounds and five assists in the 19-point romp that kept the Hotshots spotless and alone at the summit ahead of idle San Miguel Beer (3-1).
Barroca's homecoming and post-birthday party was complemented by the strong performances of Ian Sangalang, who anchored Magnolia's inside game and punched in a team-high 20, and Paul Lee, who accounted for three of the team's 13 three-pointers in a 17-point outing.
Zav Lucero, scoring from both the interior and the perimeter, matched Lee's 17 and added 11 rebounds.
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The big win and Player of the Game honors served as a perfect gift for Barroca, who turned 39 on the eve of his homecoming game.
Barroca and Co. extricated from a tight contest with a game-changing 20-5 blast in the second quarter sparked by a three-pointer and a four-ball from Jerrick Ahanmisi and a pair of treys from Lee.
This lifted the troops of Chito Victolero to a 65-48 tear. They eventually stretched the lead to a high of 28 at 107-79 before the Fuel Masters chopped off nine in the final tally.
Magnolia spoiled the 25-point 15-rebound showing of Kai Ballungay for Phoenix, which fell to 1-3. Zamboangueno RR Garcia also shone for the Fuel Masters with 22 spiked by a 3-of-3 shooting from the three-point arc.(OL)
The Scores:
Magnolia 118 - Sangalang 20, Barroca 18, Lucero 17, Lee 17, Laput 10, Dela Rosa 8, Ahanmisi 7, Alfaro 6, Abueva 6, Escoto 5, Lastimosa 4, Dionisio 0, Balanza 0.
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Phoenix 99 - Ballungay 25, Garcia 22, Perkins 17, Tio 8, Soyud 6, Tuffin 5, Rivero 4, Manganti 4, Camacho 4, Jazul 4, Daves 0, Ular 0, Verano 0.
Quarterscores: 35-27, 67-53, 94-74, 118-99.
