After defeating the Phoenix Fuel Masters 118-99 on Saturday night at the Zamboanga City Coliseum, the Magnolia Hotshots continued to lead the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup and extended their winning streak to 4-0.

Magnolia clearly established its supremacy and remained at the top of the leaderboard, keeping a clean slate ahead of idle San Miguel Beer, which presently has a 3-1 record, by showcasing a deadly combination of smothering defense and a diverse inside-outside offensive assault.

In front of his hometown audience, Magnolia’s seasoned playmaker and proud Zamboanga native, Mark Barroca, gave an inspiring performance. Barroca, who just celebrated his 39th birthday, thrilled the local fans with his energetic and accurate play as he scored 18 points, pulled down six rebounds, and dishing out five assists. He was named Player of the Game for his homecoming effort, capping an incredible weekend on both a personal and professional level.

Ian Sangalang, who led the Hotshots’ attack in the paint with a team-high 20 points, provided support for Barroca’s outstanding performance. On his way to a 17-point performance, Paul Lee, displaying his signature outside shooting, made three of the team’s 13 triples. With 17 points and 11 rebounds, freshman Zav Lucero made a key contribution to Magnolia’s well-balanced offense. He demonstrated his flexibility by scoring from both inside and outside the arc.

The game started off as a close contest, but halfway through the second quarter, the Hotshots took complete control. Jerrick Ahanmisi and Lee’s perimeter bombs propelled a crucial 20-5 scoring run that transformed a close game into a 17-point halftime lead, 65-48. Magnolia effectively took the fight out of the Fuel Masters in the second half, pushing the margin to as high as 28 points, 107-79, before letting up in the closing minutes.

Phoenix’s youthful core delivered strong performances in spite of the unbalanced result. One of the team’s bright lights, Kai Ballungay, recorded a double-double with 15 rebounds and 25 points. Prior to Magnolia’s depth and firepower overwhelming them, Phoenix was competitive early on thanks to his athleticism and perseverance. In spite of the team’s difficulties, RR Garcia of Zamboanga gave the Fuel Masters a boost by scoring 22 points and shooting a perfect 3-of-3 from beyond the arc, giving the home crowd something to celebrate.

However, Magnolia’s multifaceted attack and methodical defense were simply too strong for the Fuel Masters to match. The Hotshots’ superb ball movement, which consistently found the open man, demonstrated their unwavering effort to contest shots, manage the boards, and share the basketball.

Coach Chito Victolero’s approach, which prioritizes toughness, selflessness, and execution on both ends of the court, is still effective today. As the competition goes on, Magnolia’s ability to mix its veterans with up-and-coming players like Lucero has given the team fresh vitality and depth, making them even more formidable.

Phoenix currently has a 1-3 record and will have a more difficult time getting back together and fixing their defensive shortcomings and irregularities. The Fuel Masters will need to change if they want to remain competitive in the conference after finding it difficult to keep up with Magnolia’s explosive offense.

The Hotshots’ triumph, meanwhile, sends a powerful statement to the league as a whole. Magnolia is proving to be one of the most unified and resilient teams this season, as well as a favorite for the Philippine Cup crown, thanks to their unbeaten record and key players who are starting to perform well.

The upcoming games will be crucial for both teams. Phoenix needs to recover swiftly to prevent falling farther down the standings, while Magnolia wants to continue its winning streak and gain even more momentum. The triumphant homecoming marks yet another phase in the remarkable campaign debut of Barroca and his Hotshots, who have higher objectives in mind.

Scores at the end of the match

Magnolia with 118 points for the win
Individual Scores: Sangalang 20, Barroca 18, Lucero 17, Lee 17, Laput 10, Dela Rosa 8, Ahanmisi 7, Alfaro 6, Abueva 6, Escoto 5, Lastimosa 4, Dionisio 0, Balanza 0.

Phoenix with 99 points
Individual Scores: Ballungay 25, Garcia 22, Perkins 17, Tio 8, Soyud 6, Tuffin 5, Rivero 4, Manganti 4, Camacho 4, Jazul 4, Daves 0, Ular 0, Verano 0.

Scores per quarter

35-27, 67-53, 94-74, 118-99