MANILA, Philippines –  Magnolia put up a strong show against the Meralco Bolts, winning 117-92 to maintain their position as the only undefeated team in the 2024 PBA Philippine Cup. At the halfway point of the elimination round, the Hotshots had now won six games in a row, while the Bolts had lost two in a row and were at 3-5 in the team rankings.

Paul Lee, a seasoned guard, grabbed center stage with a spectacular shooting performance that left the Meralco defense reeling. In just 21 minutes, Lee scored 27 points, with an incredible 4-of-5 four-point range clip serving as the highlight. During the last period, he quickly hit three of those long-range bombs, which fueled a run that gained momentum and gave Magnolia the victory. With less than four minutes left in regulation, his barrage of buckets transformed a manageable 15-point deficit into a commanding 108-86 lead.

Magnolia needed Lee’s scoring burst to blow the game open, but the team’s general cohesiveness and depth of scoring spoke louder than Lee’s. Throughout the game, the Hotshots played with accuracy and displayed a well-rounded offensive onslaught, with three players contributing nine points each and five players scoring in double figures.

Ian Sangalang, the frontcourt anchor, had another solid performance, controlling the paint on both ends and recording 16 points and nine rebounds. Magnolia had a powerful interior presence thanks to the matching 11-point and seven-rebound performances of James Laput and Zavier Lucero. In a balanced scoring effort that highlighted the strength of the Hotshots’ bench, Rome dela Rosa also scored in double figures with 11 points, while Mark Barroca, Jerom Lastimosa, and Peter Alfaro III each contributed nine points.

Shooters like Lee were able to find open shots beyond the arc thanks to Magnolia’s offensive philosophy, which focused on quick ball movement, precise execution, and spacing. They also displayed a strong transition game, frequently taking Meralco by surprise and turning mistakes into simple points.

Meralco made a great effort, but he was unable to keep up with Magnolia’s speed and reliability. For the majority of the game, the Bolts were within striking distance, but their defensive errors and subpar play in the fourth quarter cost them dearly. In an attempt to keep his team competitive, Chris Banchero led Meralco with 20 points, but as the game went on, he got little help.

After Cliff Hodge’s egregious foul penalty 1 on Zavier Lucero late in the game, tension increased. Replays of the play, which was judged to be excessive and dangerous, were shown on the venue’s enormous screen, and the audience responded loudly. The event demonstrated the frustration that had grown on the Meralco side as the game fell out of reach, even if the altercation was contained without escalation.

Meralco had shown some life, especially in the third quarter, bringing the deficit down to a more manageable amount before Magnolia’s fourth-quarter surge. But thanks to Lee’s prompt shooting and the combined efforts of their supporting cast, the Hotshots swiftly regained control. Meralco was unable to put up much more of a fight when Magnolia restored a lead of more than 20 points.

Magnolia presently has a 6-0 record and is the only team at the top of the standings. Their hopes of winning a championship will be put to the test in their final elimination round matches against Rain or Shine, NorthPort, Barangay Ginebra, NLEX, and TNT. Their recent performances have made them one of the conference’s most complete and reliable teams, and their perfect record puts them in a great position to earn a top seed in the playoffs.

However, Meralco’s chances of making the playoffs are gradually dwindling. The Bolts need to reorganize, refocus their defense, and establish consistency in their offensive setups with three games remaining against Blackwater, NLEX, and Ginebra. They might have a chance to get to the quarterfinals if they win all of their remaining games, but in a hotly contested race, they might not make it.

By combining experience, depth, and firepower in a season that hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down, the Magnolia Hotshots are solidifying their position as the tournament’s favorites.