CONQUERING A TITAN
Mark Barroca and Ian Sangalang flashed their old forms on Friday to keep Magnolia and rookie coach LA Tenorio unbeaten after two games in the PBA Philippine Cup.
Their efforts in the 127-119 victory over the Titan Ultra Giant Risers served as an indication that the remnants of the Hotshots’ glory days can still figure prominently amid the slow rise of Tenorio’s young core.
Tenorio, however, begged to differ.
“I’m not really emphasizing our young players, I want everyone [to play],” Tenorio said. “In our team, anybody can start and I want to have a combination that has so far worked.”
Barroca had 16 points, four rebounds and seven assists, while Sangalang was a recipient of most of his old-time teammate’s passes and scored 21, as both off the bench and helped Magnolia shake off a determined Titan Ultra side that played minus ex-Hotshot Calvin Abueva.
Abueva sat out the contest due to a hamstring injury sustained against the Converge FiberXers.
The two members of the franchise’s 2014 Grand Slam and the last championship back in the 2018 Governors’ Cup combined with the youngsters composed of Zavier Lucero, Peter Alfaro and Jerom Lastimosa for the first winning streak in the Tenorio regime.
“There’s a purpose on the combinations that we’re putting on the court,” Tenorio said. “Vets are vets. Whether they play five minutes, 10 minutes or 15 minutes, I know they will deliver.
“And it’s a good thing for us that the vets are showing the young players that even though they are not starters and are playing limited minutes that they are playing their hearts out. And it’s a good sign for our team.”
Top young gun
Lucero was once again superb for the Hotshots with 23 points and 17 rebounds, Lastimosa had 13 points, four rebounds and six assists and Alfaro added seven in the win.
Speaking of vets, Magnolia also got solid contributions from Russel Escoto, in the league since 2016 with three teams, but usually given sparse minutes. He finished with 16 points in a relief appearance.
Titan Ultra fell to 1-2 sans Abueva, who was denied a chance to take on his former team that traded the energetic forward in last season’s Philippine Cup eliminations.
Joshua Munzon scored 28 points with six assists and three steals for the Giant Risers.
Meanwhile, Converge has a massive test ahead in TNT on Saturday as the league hosts a provincial sortie at Chavit Arena in Vigan, Ilocos Sur, at 7:30 p.m.
Converge is keen on proving its label as a potential title contender against last year’s near-Grand Slam winner in TNT, which will come into the contest smarting from a 15-point defeat at the hands of Barangay Ginebra last Wednesday.
