MANILA, Philippines – The Magnolia Hotshots hold the highest awards in the PBA On Tour. In their road matchup against the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters at the Lamberto Macias Sports and Cultural Center in Dumaguete on Saturday, Coach Chito Victolero and his team assured themselves with the best record in the preseason series. They defeated them, 103 to 88.

The Arena Plus and Bingo Plus-sponsored preseason series has highlighted the Magnolia Hotshots as the standout squad. Even if they lose their remaining games against the Terrafirma Dyip and the Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters, their outstanding performances and record assure them of the top slot.

The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters’ last loss brought their record down to 6-2, while they experienced a setback. The Blackwater Bossing (6-3) and the Meralco Bolts (6-4) are just behind them in the standings.

Despite being without important players Gabe Norwood, Rey Nambatac, and Nick Demusis, Rain or Shine got out to a fast start and won the first quarter, 27-18. However, the Hotshots swiftly changed the game’s momentum in the second quarter and took control. In the third quarter, they continued to play well, and in the fourth, they showed grit and resolve, achieving a convincing victory.

The game’s star performance, Jiovani Jalalon, led all scorers with 24 points. In addition to scoring, he also provided seven assists, made five steals, and pulled down three rebounds. He had a positive overall effect on both sides of the floor, which was crucial to the Hotshots’ victory. Jericho Ahanmisi, who scored 18 points and shot 4-of-5 three-pointers with accuracy, performed an important supporting role. With 13 points each, Rome dela Rosa and Dave Murrell also made a substantial impact on the team’s score.

The Hotshots dominated both the defensive end and the paint-to-air competition. Calvin Abueva and Abu Tratter demonstrated their tenacious hustling and vigor by grabbing 14 and 10 rebounds, respectively. The team’s 62 total rebounds, which outnumbered Rain or Shine’s 53, were a result of their efforts on the glass.

Prior to their upcoming match against the Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters on July 23 at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan, the Hotshots will now have a well-earned week off. On July 26, they will play against the Terrafirma Dyip to put an end to their journey.

The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters have a string of crucial games against Meralco, NorthPort, and Blackwater coming up, giving them the chance to recover from their most recent loss and pick up their winning streak once again. They will try to reorganize, make the necessary adjustments, and keep up their level of competition.

The Magnolia Hotshots, on the other hand, are the club to keep an eye on as the preseason series comes to a close. They have strengthened their reputation as a force to be reckoned with by putting on strong performances. They are a strong contender for the upcoming regular season thanks to their strong squad, diverse scoring, and committed defense.

Moving forward, there are separate goals for each team. Magnolia wants to build on their achievements and keep up their strong position while Rain or Shine wants to recover and go back to winning form. Fans can look forward to an interesting basketball show from these clubs as the preseason series comes to an end and the regular season approaches.