PBA: Magnolia keeps winning, Rain or Shine keeps losing

By Robert Andaya

The Magnolia Chicken Timplados have now won all their five assignments, while Rain or Shine E-Painters have lost all  five games after the first month of the PBA Season 48 Commissioner’s Cup.

After winning their season opener against the TNT Tropang Giga at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last November 5, the Hotshots sustained their perfect record following a convincing 99-72 victory over NLEX  at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig last Friday. 

Led by import Tyler Bey  and Jio Jalalon and handled by coach Chito Victolero, the Hotshots are the only unbeaten team at the halfway mark of the import-flavored conference.

From November 5 to December 1, Magnolia won over TNT Tropang Giga (110-102), Phoenix Super LPG (107-92), NorthPort Batang Pier (112-74), Barangay Ginebra ( 93-91) and Rain or Shine (99-72).

Overall, the win was  the 16th straight for Magnolia dating back to the preseason PBA On Tour. 

Up next  for the Hotshots in the remaining days of the year are Blackwater Bossing on Dec. 6,  San Miguel Beer on Dec. 10, Rain or Shine again  on Dec. 16, Terrafirma on Dec. 20, and Converge on Dec. 23.

In contrast, Rain or Shine tumbled to its fifth straight setback — a 100-115 loss to San Miguel Beer last Nov. 29.

Despite  the efforts of  Gian Mamuyac and rookie guard Adrian Nocum, the E-Painters remained as the only winless team at 0-5.

Mamuyac finished with a career-high 33 points on 11-of-17 shooting, while Nocum,  the team’s No. 24 pick in the last draft, added 12 points on 6-of-11 from the field while adding three rebounds. Among this year’s rookie batch, his output ranks third best after the 16 points of Rain or Shine teammate Keith Datu and the 15 points of Phoenix guard Ricci Rivero.

New Rain or Shine import Demetrius Treadwell debuted with eight points, a game-high 15 rebounds, five assists and two blocks in 39 minutes.

The E-Painters and multi-titled coach Yeng Guiao, however, hope things will get better in this merry month of December.

The E-Painters will go up against Blackwater, NLEX, Magnolia and Terrafirma for the rest of the month.

The scores

Last December 1:

Magnolia (99) – Bey 23, Barroca 19, Laput 16, Lee 14, Jalalon 11, Dionisio 6, Ahanmisi 3, Eriobu 2, Sangalang 2, Murrell 2, Tratter 1, Dela Rosa 0, Escoto 0

NLEX (72) – Chaffee 23, Rosales 15, Ganuelas-Rosser 7, Nieto 6, Trollano 5, Anthony 3, Herndon 3, Rodger 3, Semerad 3, Miranda 2, Pascual 2, Gabo 0, Doliguez 0

Quarterscores: 24-24, 44-46, 74-60, 99-72.

Last November 29

San Miguel  (115)  – Aska 28, Lassiter 23, Perez 17, Fajardo 16, Cruz 10, Enciso 6, Ross 6, Bulanadi 5, Brondial 4, Tautuaa 0.

Rain or Shine  (110) – Mamuyac 33, Nambatac 16, Clarito 14, Nocum 12, Caracut 9, Treadwell 8, Borboran 7, Demusis 5, Belga 3, Belo 2, Santillan 1.

Quarterscores: 21-32, 53-53, 85-86, 115-110.