Magnolia steadied its PBA Philippine Cup campaign on Sunday, December 7, after turning back NLEX, 98-92, at the Ynares Center in Montalban to keep its playoff hunt firmly on track. The victory moved the Hotshots to 6-3 and kept them within striking distance of a twice-to-beat cushion in the quarterfinals.

The Hotshots came out sharper than they did in their previous outing, shaking off Friday’s blowout loss with renewed focus. Zav Lucero anchored the resurgence with 18 points and 12 rebounds, leading a spread-out effort that allowed Magnolia to control much of the matchup. His two-way presence helped the Hotshots dictate tempo and stay steady in the crucial stretches.

NLEX fell to the same 6-3 record but lost ground in the tight race among the middle seeds. The Road Warriors never fully recovered from Magnolia’s hot start, and their early miscues kept them playing from behind for most of the night.

Hotshots keep urgency high amid tight standings

Coach LA Tenorio reminded his squad that every remaining game carries playoff weight, especially with upcoming assignments against Rain or Shine on Dec. 15 and TNT on Dec. 21. He emphasized discipline and composure, and the Hotshots delivered the kind of response he had been demanding since their last defeat.

Tenorio acknowledged the team’s youth but welcomed the win as a test they needed. Facing a structured and well-coached NLEX group, Magnolia stayed composed through every counter, showing growth in areas that had faltered earlier in the conference.

Road Warriors undone by slow start and key errors

NLEX stumbled early after absorbing a 10-0 burst and never found consistent rhythm. Their second quarter struggles were punctuated by missed shots and turnovers, opening the door for Magnolia to build leads as wide as 42-25 and 47-30.

Robert Bolick, who has been the engine of the Road Warriors’ attack, finished with only 12 points and three assists before his looming departure for national team duty. Javee Mocon added 12 off the bench, while Jonnel Policarpio, Kevin Alas and Xyrus Torres had 11 each, but the team lacked its usual sharpness.

Magnolia had no such issues as Lucero drew support from Rome dela Rosa, Mark Barroca, James Laput, Chris Koon and Ian Sangalang, all of whom hit double figures. Paul Lee scored only one triple but helped orchestrate the offense with eight assists.