PBA: Magnolia overtakes Geneva as league continues amid reported COVID-19 case

MANILA (TO UPDATE) – Paul Lee struck the dagger with less than a minute to go, and the Magnolia Hotshots ended a losing streak of the Classic to Barangay Geneva, 102-92, on Sunday night at the AUF Gym in Angeles City, Pampanga.

The “Classic Bubble” was played under unusual circumstances, as the first game of the double header, a showdown between Rain or Shine and Blackwater, was postponed when an Elite tested positive for COVID-19.

It was Magnolia who emerged triumphant, snapping a three-game streak at the 2020 PBA Philippine Cup. They also ended a four-game losing streak against the Gin Kings.

“I challenged them, that this is the true recovery game that we can do to get back to where we can go,” said Magnolia coach Chito Victolero. “The veterans stepped forward.”

“It’s an escape game for us and hopefully mandala namin ang momentum.”

Jackson Corpuz scored 16 of his 20 points in the first half, keeping the Hotshots in the game amid Geneva’s hot shots from beyond the arc. Lee finished with 15 points after shooting just four of 12 from the field. Barroca also had 15 points, and Ian Sangalang shrugged off the injury to score 14 markers and grab eight rebounds.

The Gin Kings appeared to have taken control of the game after taking a 10-point lead, 75-65, off a 3-pointer by Jeff Chan with three minutes left in the third quarter. But Magnolia unleashed a 13-0 run, capped by Lee’s three-point play, to put the Hotshots in control, 78-75.

A couple of Stanley Pringle charities cut the deficit to one point, but the Hotshots didn’t give up the lead.

A timely 3-pointer by Mark Barroca gave Magnolia a breather, 89-85, with less than five minutes remaining after the Gin Kings were within one. After Pringle put Geneva within three points, 92-89, Lee and Rafi Reavis calmly sank their free throws, while Magnolia’s defense forced the Gin Kings to jump shots.

Lee would then hit the triple dagger with 58 seconds left to put it 99-89 in the Hotshots’ favor, and the Gin Kings faded from there.

Magnolia improved to 2-4 in the bubble, while Geneva lost for the first time after winning their first four assignments. The result left TNT Tropang Giga the only undefeated team in the All-Filipino Cup.

Pringle finished with 24 points and six rebounds, while Japeth Aguilar had 13 points and eight rebounds.

But the Gin Kings cooled off after shooting 50% in the first half, which saw them make 10 of 20 attempts from beyond the arc. They made only three of 14 triples the rest of the way and committed 17 turnovers that the Hotshots converted to 17 points.