Sangalang helps Magnolia solidify grip of top spot

MANILA, Philippines — He may not be the biggest scorer in the game, but if not for Ian Sanggalang, Magnolia wouldn't be enjoying a firm hold of the PBA Philippine Cup’s top spot.

With the Blackwater Elite threatening to pull the rug on the Hotshots in the final minutes of the affair, it was Sangalang who made crucial plays on both ends of the court:

Drilling go-ahead basket...
 

And then forcing Mac Belo — who scored 14 all in the final frame to lead the Elite’s late rally — to turn the ball over.



What followed was a frantic stand by Blackwater, pushing the panic button through duty fouls.

"Kailangan talaga namin 'yung game na to e. 'Di kami pwede matalo dito kaya nung huli medyo na-pressure kami noong dumikit,” Sanggalang shared. “Pero ako? Positive lang ako. Pag pinasok ako, ready ako.”

"'Yung game plan namin is to switch,” the 6-foot-7 forward said. "Nung unang switch namin, naka-shoot siya. So sabi ko, pag nagswitch kami ready na ako kahit anong mangyari. 'Di ko paii-score-in 'to.

"Kung da-drive man siya, bibigyan ko siya ng hard foul basta hindi ko siya paii-score-in,” Sangalang added.

The cager out of San Sebastian College had eight points in that outing — a far cry from the other performances he mounted for Magnolia in which he scored more 13 or more.

"Kumpyansa lang at tiwala sa sarili,” he said of his secret. "'Yung positive mindset na kaya ko pag binunot ako. Na ready ako.”

Magnolia has now won every game they played in the New Year.

Sangalang and the rest of the Hotshots will have their biggest test when they face the only other team to have one loss in the Philippine Cup, reigning conference champion San Miguel Beer.