By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
The Magnolia Hotshots Chicken Timplados opened their PBA Philippine Cup campaign with a total beat down of the Converge FiberXers, 106-75, on March 16, 2024, at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
Despite setting foot for the first time since losing the PBA Commissioner’s Cup several months ago, the Chicken Timplados played with urgency and made quick work of the FiberXers to clinch a win in their first game of the season.
Magnolia was just too good against the struggling Converge squad and taught them a lesson on how to play as a cohesive unit, running their offensive schemes flawlessly while also putting up a defensive clinic for four straight quarters.
Leading the way for the Chicken Timplados is their seasoned veteran big man Ian Sangalang who finished with an efficient 17-point performance built from 7/10 shooting from the field.
Sangalang was just toying around Converge’s big men rotation and put his post-up clinic on full display, bullying his way for easy deuces while also knocking down the open mid-range jumpers.
Magnolia only had a four-point lead after the end of the first 12 minutes but a quick scoring burst turned the nip-and-tuck affair into a one-sided game.
It was in the second quarter when the Chicken Timplados controlled the game with their half-court sets, setting up their usual plays from pick-and-roll actions involving their big men while also executing their swing-to-swing action that freed their wing shooters for more points.
It was all Magnolia in the second half as their balanced attack proved to be too much, outscoring the FiberXers, 53-36, to cap off their convincing victory.
Calvin Abueva also had an all-around performance for the Chicken Timplados after stuffing the stat sheets with 14 markers, eight rebounds, and four assists.
Meanwhile, floor general Jio Jalalon was also productive in the lopsided win, sparking Magnolia with 14 points, seven dimes, five steals, and three rebounds.
The Chicken Timplados will aim for its second consecutive victory on March 31, 2024, and will challenge one of their old-time rivals, the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel.
