On a festive night celebrating five decades of Philippine basketball, it was fresh legs and fierce finishes that lifted the Magnolia Hotshots to their second straight victory in the 49th PBA Philippine Cup.
Emerging forward Zav Lucero delivered when it mattered most, teaming up with veteran Ian Sangalang to lead the Hotshots past the Converge Fiber Xers, 83-71, before a spirited holiday crowd at the historic Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
Lucero and Sangalang matched each other with 18 points apiece, but it was Lucero’s energy in the final quarter that truly made the difference. The 6’6” dynamo exploded for nine of his total in the last period, propelling Magnolia from a slim 59-56 edge at the end of the third to a commanding finish that left Converge scrambling.
“That’s the preparation. We wanted to have fresh legs. And we wanted the veterans to also have fresh legs so they can have good execution,” said head coach Chito Victolero, crediting the team’s depth and conditioning for the victory.
Lucero’s fourth-quarter surge started with a strong layup at the 8:49 mark, giving the Hotshots a 65-58 lead as their defense clamped down on Converge, limiting the Fiber Xers to just six points in the early minutes of the final frame.
Sangalang, returning to action late in the fourth, picked up where Lucero left off. His layup with 6:25 to play kept Magnolia firmly ahead at 69-62, and his clutch jumper with 2:39 remaining stretched the lead to a comfortable 78-66, effectively sealing the win.
Also instrumental in the victory was the support from veterans like Paul Lee, who, thanks to the team’s strategic rotation, had the stamina to deliver in the closing minutes.
The win pushed Magnolia into a share of the lead alongside the Meralco Bolts, giving them valuable momentum heading into their next high-stakes showdown against the powerhouse San Miguel Beermen.
Zav Lucero provided the Magnolia Hotshots the fresh legs which they needed to post their second straight win in the 49th Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup.
Lucero and Sangalang took turns in attacking the basket, and both finished with 18 points for the Hotshots on Wednesday night.
A sizeable holiday crowd showed up during the PBA’s 50th anniversary games at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum, and watched as Lucero backed up Ian Sangalang in the Hotshots’ 83-71 triumph over the Converge Fiber Xers.
“That’s the preparation. We wanted to have fresh legs. And we wanted the veterans also to have fresh legs so they can have good execution,” said Hotshots coach Chito Victolero.
The Hotshots now share the lead with the Meralco Bolts, and they have the momentum going into their next encounter with the San Miguel Beermen next week.
The 6’6” Lucero provided nine points in the last period, and as the Hotshots moved away from a close 59-56 lead at the end of the third.
“These fresh legs allowed us to go to the veterans like Ian and Paul (Lee) later on,” added Victolero.
As the Hotshots’ defense limited the Fiber Xers to six in the first minutes of the fourth, Lucero’s layup with 8:49 left, handed Magnolia a 65-58 lead.
When Sangalang came in, his layup in the final 6:25 staying in front by seven, 69-62.
Sangalang’s jumper with 2:39 left later saw the Hotshots enjoying a 78-66 spread.