Streaking Hotshots dump Road Warriors

MANILA, Philippines -- The Magnolia Hotshots pulled away in the second half to rout the NLEX Road Warriors, 99-72, and roll to their fifth straight win in the PBA Season 48 Commissioner's Cup Friday at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.

The Road Warriors were leading by two, 46-44, at the half after their new import Stokley Chaffee Jr. and. Magnolia's Ian Sangalang traded baskets toward the end of the second quarter.

A Kris Rosales jumper gave the Road Warriors a 54-50 lead at the 8:56 mark of the third quarter.

The top-seeded Hotshots then found their stride, unleashing an 18-2 run capped by a Tyler Bey layup to take a 68-56 lead.

Chaffee stopped the rampage with a dunk, but Mark Barroca and Jio Jalalon helped Magnolia grab a 13-point lead anew, 71-58.

Since then, the Hotshots never looked back.

A 3-pointer by Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser cut a once 14-point lead to 11, 63-74, early in the final quarter.

Magnolia then scored 17 straight points as the lead ballooned to 28, 91-63.
The lead grew to as much as 29, 99-70, with a David Murrel layup with 1:09 left in the game.

Bey led Magnolia anew with 23 points, six rebounds, three blocks and a steal.

Barroca provided the spark off the bench with 19 points, nine assists and five rebounds in 28 minutes.

Chaffee, who was named the new NLEX import just a few days ago, had 23 points and 19 boards in his debut. Rosales chipped in 15 markers.

With the loss, NLEX dropped to 2-3 for the season.