Magnolia imported Nick Rakocevic. PBA . IMAGES
MANILA, Philippines — The undefeated Magnolia continued its hot start in the PBA Commissioners Cup on Sunday by beating NorthPort with a 109-91 win at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Saved for that 5-0 deficit not long after it ended, Hotshots gets cruise control backed by another excellent game from import Nick Rakocevic along with solid contributions from locals side to win the fifth in many matches.
Rakocevic finished with 26 points, 14 rebounds and four assists in the one-way situation that ultimately served as a warm-up for Magnolia’s Manila Clasico game against Barangay Ginebra on October 23.
Mark Barroca created 13 points and 8 assists while Ian Sangalang returned from typhoid fever and was given 10 points on the bench.
The Hotshots won by double digits for the second straight game after averaging 4.7 points in the first three games of the mid-season conference.
NorthPort dropped an even 3-3 score in the middle of qualifying after trailing with a peak of 21 at the start of the payback period.
Batang Pier played except for Arwind Santos for unknown reasons. It marked the 12th time in the career of the former PBA Most Valuable Player that he missed a game.
Kevin Ferrer tops the losers list with 19 while Robert Bolick has 15 when shooting 5/12.
The point:
MAGNOLIA 109 – Rakocevic 26, Barroca 13, Ahanmisi 10, Jalalon 10, Sangalang 10, Corpuz 9, Lee 7, Abueva 6, Dela Rosa 6, Escoto 5, Dionisio 3, Mendoza 2, Wong 2, Reavis 0, Laput 0.
NORTHPORT 91 – Ferrer 19, Bolick 15, Ibeh 11, Tolentino 11, Ayaay 10, Salado 6, Chan 5, Balanza 5, Sumang 3, Calma 2, Taha 1, Caperal 0, Dela Cruz 0.
Areas: 30-20, 56-39, 86-65, 109-91.
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