Philippines, 20 Jul 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


MAGNOLIA HOTSHOTS DIDN'T WIN GAME 1


PhilBoxing.com


Magnolia Hotshots Paambansang Manok didn?t win Game 1 of the PBA Philippine Cup best-of-seven titular series. San Miguel Beer lost it.

The Beermen led by 20 points sometime in the third quarter and by 14, 89-75 the end of the same period and looked on the way to wrapping up the contest running away until their top gun forgot what they started and ended up instead at the losing end, 105-102, giving away the victory everybody expected to be theirs.

June Mar Fajardo exemplified the Beermen?s monumental collapse managing only six points of his total 31 points for the night in the fourth period even as he committed half of his evening high 11 turnovers in the same span.

In contrast, Ian Sngalang, one of the three men Magnolia coach Chito Victolero assigned to contain the 6-10 Fajardo, had 14 big points in the final 12 minutes as he along with rookie Robert Herndon single-handedly beat the entire three-time defending champions to the draw.

The prized recruit from Globalport at the start of the play-for-pay?s 43rd season, who was fielded in only in the fourth, jumped and drove for eight points making mincemeat of the Beermen?s half-hearted defense.

A two-point contribution each from speedy Jio Jalalon, defense-oriented Raffy Reavis and Paul Lee accounted for 30 of the Hotshots? total output in the pay-off period, more than enough to ovehaul, SMB?s measly 14 points, also in the fourth.

Alex Cabagnot, the guy the Beermen hoped to create offensive situations for them, was the one shooting and was actually succeeding in thwarting the Hotshots? initial title pretensions, with 25 points going into the fourth, but was nowhere to be found when his team needed him most making only two.

So were Marcio Lassiter, who had 15 points after the first 36 minutes of play but could only add five the rest of the way, and Arwind Santos, who heaved from behind the arc for 18 points in the same stretch only to run out of gas for two points.

No other Beermen coach Leo Austria fielded were around to help in their cause.

Asked if he has already found solution to the myth that was Fajardo on the way to win the series and the Hotshots first All-Filipino crown in four years, Victolero still downplayed his chances.

?We?re still the underdogs,? Victolero, who is in his first finals appearance since assuming the coaching job for the Hotshots last year, said during the traditional post-game meeting with media men.

?Kahit anu pa ang sabihin natin from the start, wala namang maniniwala na mananalo kami dito eh. But we tried,? he added. ?Like tonight, we?ll just be trying oUr best on Sunday and we?ll see.?

Victolero said he Hotshots defended well in Game 1 and it will be the same lethal weapon the Hotshot will be exploiting when the two sister teams meet anew in Game 2 Sunday at the MOA Arena.

Reavis exemplified the Hotshots? stonewall defense employed the entire game when he clearly blocked what could have been Santos? game-tying attempt from 21 feet, triggering a wild celebrations from a Magnolia team which last won the All-Filipino plum in 2014 en route to the Purefods franchise?s first Grand Slam victory

?When you lead by 20 points in a championship game and you end up losing the game, it?s very disappointing,? said Austria could only murmur following the Beermen?s loss.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Pacquiao vs Barrios: Factors of consequence
    By Joaquin Henson, , Sun, 20 Jul 2025
  • How to Watch Pacquiao vs Barrios in the Philippines
    By Carlos Costa, , Sun, 20 Jul 2025
  • Final Hours Tick Down: Pacquiao and Barrios Ready for Destiny in Las Vegas
    By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 19 Jul 2025
  • Philippines Sweeps Kyrgyzstan, Secures Return to Davis Cup Group III
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 19 Jul 2025
  • Blu Girls Bounce Back, Blank Hong Kong 12–0 in Four Innings
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 19 Jul 2025
  • Pacquiao vs. Barrios: Weigh-in Results and Fight Analysis
    By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 19 Jul 2025
  • Panamanian Star Nataly Delgado wins WBA super flyweight champinship
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sat, 19 Jul 2025
  • Usyk vs Dubois Rematch Marred by Oversaturated Pay-Per-View Market
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 19 Jul 2025
  • Weights from Washington, PA
    , Sat, 19 Jul 2025
  • Pacquiao and Barrios Make Weight: Final Hurdle Cleared for Blockbuster Saturday Night
    By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 19 Jul 2025
  • Usyk Registers Career-Heaviest Weight as Dubois Looks Ready for Undisputed Rematch at Wembley
    , Sat, 19 Jul 2025
  • Rodriguez vs. Cafu Unification Clash Set for Frisco, Texas; All Fighters Make Weight
    By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 19 Jul 2025
  • LOPEZ VS. VARGAS WEIGHTS FROM PECHANGA RESORT CASINO
    , Sat, 19 Jul 2025
  • “Bambol” Tolentino in Las Vegas: Supporting Filipino Athletes and Pacquiao
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Unstoppable: Team Philippines Storms Into Davis Cup Finals After Qatar Sweep
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Blu Girls Stumble Against Taipei, Look to Regroup vs. Hong Kong
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Fighting for clean sweep
    By Joaquin Henson, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • WBA No. 2 Heavyweight Contender Michael Hunter Is Ready to Take on World Champion Kubrat Pulev; All Systems Go for Purse Bid Winner Don King
    , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Weights from Panama City; WBA Women's Interim Superfly Title at Stake
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Undefeated prospect Pryce Taylor Working hard to join Brooklyn’s Elite list of top heavyweight boxers
    , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Justin Goossen-Brown Set to Make DAZN Broadcasting Debut This Friday at Boxlab Promotions’ Night of Champions in Orlando
    , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Philippine Davis Cup Team Sweeps Kuwait to Stay Unbeaten in Group IV
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Pacquiao Promises Surprise Against Barrios
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • PACQUIAO VS. BARRIOS UNDERCARD MEDIA WORKOUT QUOTES
    , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Rosaupan rules Pasay rapid chess championship
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.