MANILA, Philippines – Friday in Sta. Lucia saw Magnolia defeat Rain or Shine 121-69, with the recently arriving Jabari Bird having an instant impact. This resulted in a deadlocked PBA Governors’ Cup quarterfinal series. Laguna Rosa.

In his PBA debut, Bird recorded 22 points on a 10-of-15 shooting clip, 13 rebounds, two assists, and only one turnover, providing the Hotshots with the necessary momentum to pull off an upset on the road. Bird was the fourth foreign player to assume the mantle, following Glenn Robinson III, Shabazz Muhammad, and Rayvonte Rice.

However, Magnolia benefited much from Bird’s upbeat demeanor more than his stature.

Coach Chito Victolero emphasized Jabari Bird’s contribution to Magnolia’s performance during the game and appreciated his big impact. Bird, who was 6 feet 4 inches tall and whose father Carl was a famous 1976 Royal Tru Orange player who once scored 73 points in a game, was more than simply a scorer on the court.

Victolero emphasized that Bird’s impact went beyond the stats, emphasizing instead the enthusiasm and initiative he showed. The coach observed that the team’s performance improved because of Bird’s aura and the good energy he provided to the group. Bird was charged with helping with the “little things”—defense, rebounding, and keeping a positive attitude—and he performed well in these areas throughout the game.

Magnolia’s strategy benefited greatly from his ability to bring these components to the table, highlighting the significance of intangible contributions in high-stakes games. Victolero highlighted how even seemingly insignificant acts may have a big impact on a game by thanking Bird for energizing the team and encouraging a winning mentality. Magnolia was greatly assisted by Bird’s leadership and upbeat demeanor in order to succeed on the court.

Victolero’s home team followed suit and contributed to the Magnolia withdrawal even after the Elasto Painters prevailed 109-105 in the first game of the series.

Mark Barroca and Calvin Abueva both put up double-doubles (18–10 and 11–10), while Ian Sangalang (12 points), Rome dela Rosa (11–8), and Joseph Eriobu (11) contributed offensively.

Coach Chito Victolero expressed his gratitude and pride for the local players’ efforts while praising their tenacity and will. Even though their import situation presented difficulties, the local players persevered with incredible fortitude. Victolero underlined that the team’s tenacity and diligence were essential to maintaining its competitiveness, particularly in trying times. The coach saw their dedication to keeping the team’s fighting spirit and was quite pleased with their performance, especially in the face of difficulty.

The Elasto Painters were severely outmatched in both inside scoring (78-25) and the battle of the boards (67-37) in the absence of their best inside operator and rebounder. Their terrible 23-of-82 (28%) shooting performance against the Magnolia defense hastened their collapse even more.

In the 2015 Governors’ Cup quarterfinals, the Magnolia Hotshots defeated Globalport by a score of 52 points, forcing a series stalemate and setting a record for their second-largest winning margin ever. In addition to setting a record, this commanding win also had the second-largest margin of victory of any team in PBA playoff history. With their dominant performance, the Hotshots proved that they could step up to the plate during pivotal postseason moments.

Adrian Nocum scored 13 points for Rain or Shine, but the squad is waiting nervously to see if import Reggie Fuller is healthy for the pivotal Game 3 tiebreaker. The Ynares Center in Antipolo will host the pivotal game.

Scores at the end of the match

MAGNOLIA with 121 points for the win

Individual scores: Bird 22, Abueva 18, Sangalang 12, Barroca 11, Eriobu 11, Dela Rosa 11, Dionisio 9, Lucero 9, Mendoza 7, Laput 4, Lee 4, Balanza 2, Reavis 1, Alfaro 0, Ahanmisi 0, Escoto 0.

RAIN OR SHINE with 69 points

Individual scores: Nocum 13, Lemetti 11, Asistio 7, Datu 7, Clarito 6, Santillan 6, Mamuyac 5, Tiongson 5, Fuller 4, Belga 4, Caracut 1, Escandor 0, Borboran 0, 0, Ildefonso 0, Villegas 0, Norwood 0.

Scores per quarter

34-23, 66-28, 88-49, 121-69