Simply superior

Game today:

(Chavit Coliseum, Vigan City)

7:30 p.m. — Converge vs TNT

Magnolia’s collective team effort was on full display as it brought down Titan Ultra, 127-119, for its second straight win and early solo lead in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Season 50 Philippine Cup on Friday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Hotshots made each other look good playing unselfish basketball throughout the game, dishing out 34 assists that led to six Magnolia players reaching double-figure scoring.

A telling 13-0 fourth quarter start was all the Hotshots needed to put the game away after protecting just a four-point margin at the end of the third canto.

Zav Lucero delivered a double-double of 23 points on 10-of-17 field goal shooting and pulled down 17 rebounds to go with four assists in an efficient 37-minute action for Magnolia.

Ian Sangalang added 21 points, Mark Barroca had 16 points and seven assists, Russel Escoto added 16 points while Javi Gone de Liano got four points and four dishes for the Hotshots. Jerom Lastimosa finished with 13 points and tallied six assists.

Despite the win, Magnolia head coach LA Tenorio wasn’t too happy with how his wards gave away too many points to the Giant Risers, who played sans former Hotshots forward Calvin Abueva due to hamstring issues.

“During the halftime, we emphasized that we gave up 56 points, now we gave up 60-plus points in the second half. As much as we want to enjoy and well, be happy in this game, I don’t think this is our game,” Tenorio said.

“We gave up 119 points, which was really a bad defensive game for us. Yes, we scored 127, that’s good offensively. That’s a positive side since we know we have a lot of firepower in our team. We’re not relying so much on our starters. But the concern now really is our defense.”

Holding a 92-88 clearance heading into the payoff period, Barroca scored seven of Magnolia’s 13 unanswered points to start the final canto for a 105-88 lead with 7:30 left.

A Gomez de Liaño basket with 2:54 left pushed the Hotshots’ lead to its peak at 119-98.

Titan Ultra, which trailed the whole game, dropped its second straight outing after a winning debut.

Abueva, on the bench wearing street clothes, received a warning and a technical foul for excessive complaining at the sidelines.

Meanwhile, the all-Filipino action swings up north when Converge and TNT square off at the brand-new Chavit Coliseum in Vigan, Ilocos Sur Saturday.

The scores:

MAGNOLIA (127) — Lucero 23, Sangalang 21, Barroca 16, Escoto 16, Gomez de Liano 14, Lastimosa 13, Dela Rosa 9, Alfaro 7, Laput 4, Verano 2, Dionisio 2, Lee 0, Eriobu 0, Taha 0, Gomez 0.

TITAN ULTRA (119) — Munzon 28, Ular 17, Balanza 14, Pessumal 13, Koon 12, Cuntapay 10, Sumang 9, Yu 6, Ambohot 6, Flores 4, Melecio 0, Martinez 0.

Quarters: 27-22, 58-56, 92-88, 127-119.