Hotshots rally from 20 points, stun Beermen to take Game 1

MANILA, Philippines — Magnolia lived up to their underdog tag and brought the biggest bite in a cardiac 105-103 win over San Miguel Beer during the 2018 PBA Philippine Cup Finals series opener at the Big Dome on Friday night.

Ian Sangalang shouldered most of the scoring brunt to help the Hotshots claw back from a 20-point deficit. The big man, who held his own against four-time Most Valuable Player June Mar Fajardo, poured 14 of his total 29 points in the final frame, matching the Beermen's fourth quarter output.

Rookie Robbie Herndon was also stellar off the bench, making all of his eight points in that gritty rally at the fourth quarter to help pull the rug on the defending conference champions.

The Beermen had a chance to upend the challengers but Rafi Reavis — the Hotshots’ oldest and most grizzled cog in the bunch — made two crucial stops to keep the score at 105-103 as the shot clock expired.

“It’s all credit to the players kasi down 20, ‘di sila nag give up eh. That’s the character na nabuo ko sa insistence sa past experiences namin,” Magnolia head coach Chito Victolero said.

“Kahit ano pang sabihin natin, from the start, wala namang naniniwalang mananalo kami dito eh. That’s the truth. Baka siguro kami-kami lang sa aming circles,” he noted. “Basta we tried to believe na as long as we play our best, we give our best and we play together, we have a chance.” 

“Hopefully masustain namin tong energy na ‘to with the one-day prep for Sunday’s game. Sana yung hinabol naming malaki, di napagod players namin doon,” Victolero added.

San Miguel never had the chance to enjoy its lead as Magnolia were quick to turn the tide on the payoff period. They were held scoreless four minutes into that phase, prompting Leo Austria to keep his starters on the floor.

The Beermen bench accounted for just a point against the Hotshots’ 47.

Marcio Lassiter hit a crucial triple to knot the affair at 103-all with 33.9 left, but that’s the only time the four-peat seeking heavyweights were able to score as the game wound down.

The Scores:

Magnolia (105): Sangalang 29, Ramos 15, Barroca 14, dela Rosa 11, Herndon 8, Jalalon 7, Reavis 6, Pascual 5, Lee 4, Melton 3, Simon 3, Brondial 0

San Miguel (103): Fajardo 31, Cabagnot 27, Lassiter 21, Santos 19, Ganuelas-Rosser 4, Ross 1, Heruela 0, de Ocampo 0, Pessumal 0, Espinas 0

Quarter scores: 25-33, 47-63, 75-89, 105-103