Magnolia showed up without an import and still walked out with a statement win. The Hotshots dominated NLEX, 95-81, in the PBA On Tour on Saturday night. It also handed coach LA Tenorio his first win over good friend Jimmy Alapag.

Magnolia was missing KJ Buffen, Zavier Lucero and Paul Lee, while NLEX had new import Deonte Burton on the floor for the first time. The Hotshots still stunned the Road Warriors.

Tenorio vs. Alapag: First Coaching Matchup

The On Tour game is an exhibition, but the matchup carried weight. It was the first time the two former Gilas Pilipinas teammates faced each other from opposing sidelines. Tenorio earned his first win over Alapag in their first coaching duel in the league.

The two teams are not scheduled to meet in the elimination round of the Governors’ Cup because they belong to different groups. That made this On Tour stop their first chance to square off as coaches.

Magnolia Hotshots Beat NLEX Without KJ Buffen

Javi Gomez de Liaño paced Magnolia with 16 points. Guards Mark Barroca and Jerom Lastimosa each scored 13, while veteran big man Ian Sangalang added 12.

Buffen was not the only absence. Lucero sat out, fresh from playing with Gilas Pilipinas at the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan. Lee also missed the game, although he was at the Batangas City Sports Coliseum.

Burton suited up for NLEX for the first time as the replacement for the injured DeQuan Jones. He was held to 11 points. Schonny Winston led the Road Warriors with 17, while JB Bahio and Anthony Semerad added nine and seven, respectively.

Robert Bolick also sat out for NLEX, fresh from playing with Gilas Pilipinas at the Asian Games. Commissioner Willie Marcial, meanwhile, attended the On Tour for the first time.