Back on track

Game today:

(Aquilino Q. Pimentel Jr. International Convention Center)

7:30 p.m. — Rain or Shine vs TNT

Magnolia stepped on the gas pedal in the second half and never lifted its foot for a 90-75 rebound win over struggling Blackwater in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Season 50 Philippine Cup Friday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Another slow start had the Hotshots trailing by seven at halftime, but head coach LA Tenorio’s men turned the tables around with a 30-point third quarter explosion to take the driver’s seat on their way to their fifth win in seven outings.

Tenorio was relieved in Magnolia’s bounce back from a 92-94 loss to San Miguel the last time out but remained concern with the team’s persistent problem.

“I give credit to my coaching staff and my players for trusting in what we did today. But again, we cannot really start like this all the time. We can’t be playing catch-up all the time,” he said.

“I’d rather have our opponents chasing us than we chasing them.”

Javi Gomez de Liaño finished with 17 points on 6-of-12 shooting from the field for the Hotshots. Ian Sangalang got 16 points, 12 rebounds and five assists while Zav Lucero had a double-double of 13 points and 10 boards for Magnolia.

Raffy Verano provided the spark off the bench with 12 points in barely 13 minutes of action, lighting it up with a three-pointer to end the Hotshots’ pivotal third quarter before dropping seven in the fourth, including a triple for a 77-61 lead with 8:07 remaining.

Gomez de Liaño gave Magnolia its biggest separation at 23 with a trey for an 84-61 advantage in the last 5:43 of the game.

The Bossing behind Sedrick Barefield looked headed for an upset after taking a 36-24 second-quarter lead. Magnolia tightened the defensive noose, limiting Blackwater to just 14 points in the third and eventually sending the Jeff Cariaso-mentored squad to its sixth straight defeat in seven starts.

Barefield had 16 points, rookie Dalph Panopio scored 10 of his 14 points in the payoff period in garbage time while Richard Escoto finished with 12.

Meanwhile, streaking TNT guns for a fifth straight win for a firmer grip of the solo top spot against rebound-seeking Rain or Shine today at the Aquilino Q. Pimentel Jr. International Convention Center in Cagayan de Oro.

Tipoff time of the rematch of last season’s all-Filipino conference semifinals series is set at 7:30 p.m.

The Tropang 5G are fresh from a 109-95 overtime win over Terrafirma a week ago, behind Kelly Williams’ vintage performance.

TNT holds a 5-1 slate, just half a game ahead of the Elasto Painters, Magnolia, San Miguel Beer and NLEX.

Rain or Shine is reeling from a 91-105 loss to the Road Warriors last week that snapped its four-game winning run.

The scores:

MAGNOLIA (90) — Gomez de Liaño 17, Sangalang 16, Lucero 13, Verano 12, Lastimosa 10, Barroca 7, Eriobu 5, Lee 4, Dela Rosa 3, Taha 2, Alfaro 1, Koon 0

BLACKWATER (75) — Barefield 16, Panopio 14, Escoto 12, Dumont 9, Andrade 6, Tratter 5, David 5, Mendoza 4, Zamar 2, Una 2, Murrell 0, Mallilin 0, Jopia 0.