Hotshots, Beermen take opener

Comebacking cabagnot lifts SMB past Northport

MANILA, Philippines — Third-ranked Magnolia closed in on a semifinal seat by outplaying No. 6 Rain Or Shine, 81-70, at the start of the 46th PBA Philippine Cup playoffs yesterday in Bacolor, Pampanga.

The Hotshots rode on big guns Ian Sangalang and Paul Lee to seize control in the second half and run away to a 1-0 upperhand in the short best-of-three quarterfinals series.

Sangalang dropped eight of his 19 points in the third period as Magnolia unleashed a game-changing 23-8 exchange for a 60-50 tear. Doing what he does best, Lee then took over and fired 14 of his 20 in the mop-up.

“Game 1 is very important in any series. Ito yung magbibigay ng momentum kaya talagang pinaghandaan natin ito,” said Magnolia coach Chito Victolero, whose wards are intent on a bounceback after their quarterfinal bust last year.

Victolero said the key to Magnolia’s quest is “outworking and outhustling” the opponents.

“It’s about working hard, fighting for the 50-50 balls, hustling. We have to do all these to meet our goal of going deeper into the playoffs,” he said.

The hardworking Hotshots dominated the boards, 66-43, and got 21 second-chance points with Sangalang and Calvin Abueva grabbing 13 rebounds each and Jackson Corpuz and Rafi Reavis hauling down eight apiece.

Rookie Santi Santillan showed the way for ROS with 17, making 13 of them in the final canto.

Comebacking Alex Cabagnot saved the day as San Miguel Beer squeaked past NorthPort, 88-87, to get ahead in their own race-to-two affair.

Not missing a beat despite over a month of layoff due to knee injury, Cabagnot rifled in 20 and capped his heroics with the marginal fade-away jumper with 1.5 seconds left.

“I’m thankful to coach Leo (Austria) because I just got in last night (Saturday) and he could have easily not played me today. But he gave me the trust and even left me out there (in the stretch),” said Cabagnot, who bailed SMB out of trouble after NorthPort grabbed an 87-86 cushion on Robert Bolick’s long trey.