By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
The Magnolia Hotshots Chicken Timplados kicked off their PBA Philippine Cup campaign with a resounding victory over the Blackwater Bossing, 106-84, on April 6, 2025, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
From the get-go, the title-seeking franchise controlled the tempo, especially in the battle of the boards that set the tone for Magnolia’s frontcourt stars to generate easy deuces through their pick-and-roll plays.
The Chicken Timplados banked on their huge advantage scoring the ball from the shaded lane at will, backstopped by their timely three-point shooting that steered them to an early double-digit advantage.
Magnolia’s 1-2 punch of Zavier Lucero and Ian Sangalang operated down the block and sparked a huge offensive rally that capped off a momentum-boosting 14-2 run to end the first half.
Lucero anchored the team’s second-chance points tally, while Sangalang made the most out of his mismatches in the post. Magnolia continued to wreak havoc in the paint midway through the third frame, led by Mark Barroca who drained his signature one-handed floaters at will.
Blackwater tried to alter Magnolia’s defensive set plays at the start of the fourth by countering with a quick small-ball lineup, but head coach Chito Victolero relied on veteran Calvin Abueva’s tenacity that ended the Bossing’s mini scoring spurt.
Since Abueva’s take over in the fourth, Blackwater failed to sustain their run and waved the white flag when Magnolia ballooned their biggest lead of the ball game to 25 points.
Lucero top-scored for the Chicken Timplados with 21 points and seven rebounds, followed by Sangalang’s emphatic double-double outing of 15 markers and 10 boards.
Barroca, who only participated in the scoring party during the second half, wrapped up Magnolia’s first win in the PBA PHL Cup with 14 points.
“We just tried to focus on our defense and ball movement during our four-week preparation and I think lumabas naman sa laro ngayon,” said Victolero after Magnolia’s convincing win.
The Chicken Timplados will gun for their second straight victory on April 9, 2025, as they square off against the revamped Converge FiberXers squad, at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.