Still in tip-top form, Magnolia demolished woeful Columbian Dyip, 113-95, with much ease for its third straight win to get a share of the lead in the 2018 Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Romeo Travis once again took charge for the Hotshots, nearly tallying a triple-double with 32 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists.
Mark Barroca and Paul Lee provided the scoring punch from the Magnolia backcourt, adding 16 and 13 markers, respectively.
The Hotshots, who dominated from start to finish, now enjoy a 5-1 card, tying Barangay Ginebra at the top of the heap.
On the contrary, there is still no change of luck for Columbian Dyip as its recored worsened further at 0-7.
From the start, Magnolia already asserted its superiority over helpless Columbian as it zoomed to a significant lead right away after a burly opening salvo.
Mark Barroca’s buzzer-beating triple to end the quarter gave the Hotshots a comfortable 31-20 advantage.
That was only the beginning of the end for the Dyip as the Hotshots continued to pounce relentlessly.
By halftime, Magnolia extended its lead to 60-46 before finally putting the final nail in Columbian’s coffin.
An 11-2 spurt to start the third by the Hotshots finished off the Dyip as it was already an insurmountable 23-point bubble, 71-48, at that juncture.
While Magnolia continues to ascend, Columbian now needs to sweep its remaining games to, at the very, least keep its slimmest of hopes of making it to the top eight.
Jackson Corpuz led Columbian with a career-high 20 points.
The scores:
Magnolia 113 – Travis 32, Barroca 16, Lee 13, Sangalang 11, Herndon 8, Dela Rosa 7, Jalalon 6, Reavis 5, Mendoza 3, Melton 3, Simon 3, Gamalinda 2, Ramos 2, Brondial 2, Pascual 0, Abundo 0.
Columbian 95 – Corpuz 20, Wright 19, Reyes 15, King 12, McCarthy 12, Sara 7, Khobuntin 6, Escoto 2, Gabriel 2, Celda 0, Ababou 0, Tubid 0, Cabrera 0.
Quarters: 31-20, 60-46, 92-70, 113-95.