Sangalang flashes elite form in Magnolia's stunning Game 1 win

MANILA, Philippines — Ian Sangalang has been around the league for quite some time.

But his stout-hearted stand against heavyweight San Miguel Beer and their titan June Mar Fajardo during the PBA Philippine Cup Finals series opener on Friday night definitely reminded him fans that he is among the elite big men in the league.

Sangalang, a member of the fabled San Mig Coffee Super Mixers that won the Grand Slam in 2013, posted 14 points to match the Beermen’s production in the fourth period and almost singlehandedly tow Magnolia out of 20-point hollow.

“Siguro [iniisip] ko na lang sa sarili ko na kaya ko,” the 6-foot-7 big man said. “Lalaban ako kahit anong mangyari, kasi nasa Finals na kami. 

“Bihira na ngang makarating sa Finals, so kahit sinong babantayan ko dyan, inilalalagay ko nalang sa  isip ko na kaya ko,” he added, pointing out his matchup with Fajardo.

The Pampanga native finished the game with a 29-point performance on 13-for-19 clip. His herculean effort in the payoff period was so stellar that it lit a fire in his teammates. 

Rookie Robbie Herndon was so confident in his shots that he did not hesitate in taking —and convert — a couple of 3-pointers. Rafi Reavis, despite his aging frame, picked up the cudgels from Sangalang in the final moments of the game, blocking and then denying a pass for the four-time Most Valuable Player Fajardo, and finally, thwarting Arwind Santos’ game-tying jumper.   

As if Sangalang’s performance in Game One couldn’t get any better, his showing was capped off in noteworthy fashion: His final buckets — from the charity stripe — figured as the final two points that put the Hotshots ahead of the four-peat seeking Beermen.

“Unang una, nothing to lose kami. Kami, maglalaro lang kami ng best namin, ‘yung gameplan namin, ‘di kami susuko. Sabi ko nga, kahit lumamang sila, i-lalaro lang talaga kami kung ano makakaya naming gawin,” Sanaglang closed.

Magnolia will try to ride on the momentum and go for a second win when the series resumes on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.