Magnolia got amply rewarded for its rigorous preparations when it blew past Blackwater, 106-84, on Saturday, April 5,  to open its PBA Philippine Cup 2025 campaign on a commanding note at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Zavier Lucero paced the Hotshots with 21 points and seven rebounds, leading a balanced attack that saw four other Magnolia players score in double digits. Their aggressive start set the tone early, grabbing a huge 37-point opening quarter that Blackwater never recovered from.

For coach Chito Victolero, the win served as a fitting reward for their intense month-long training after bowing out early in the previous Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals.

“We just tried to focus on our defense and ball movement during our four-week break, and I think lumabas naman sa laro ngayon,” Victolero said.

“Medyo gumanda ‘yung depensa namin. We limited them under 90 points and that’s good for us and, also, we had 21 assists. I think that’s because of our ball movement, nagkaroon ng maganda ‘yung motion offense namin.”

The Hotshots’ suffocating defense held Blackwater to just 32-of-78 shooting from the field. Offensively, Magnolia shot an efficient 38-of-70 clip, allowing them to withstand 20 turnovers throughout the game.

Ian Sangalang delivered a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds, while Mark Barroca added 14 points. Jerom Lastimosa and Calvin Abueva contributed 13 apiece as Magnolia pulled away by as much as 25 points, 106-81, late in the fourth.

Christian David kept Blackwater competitive with a game-high 31 points, while Sedrick Barefield added 24 and seven assists. Unfortunately for the Bossing, no other player reached double digits, exposing their lack of offensive depth.

Blackwater’s defensive lapses were also evident as Magnolia scored 37 points in the first quarter and followed it up with another 32-point third period, pushing their lead to 85-66 heading into the final frame.

“Credit to the players. They did a very good job,” said Victolero. “In terms of preparation, they worked hard during practice and we tried to give emphasis now on the little things na medyo nakalimutan namin nu’ng last conference.”

Magnolia also controlled the glass, outrebounding Blackwater by 18 and posting a plus-12 advantage in inside points, further highlighting their renewed focus on the fundamentals.

With a dominant performance to start their campaign, the Hotshots look poised to contend once again in the PBA Philippine Cup 2025.