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PBA: Magnolia throttles Alaska to win Governors' Cup title

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Camille B. Naredo, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/sports/12/19/20181219-pba-2.jpg"/><figcaption>A four-year title drought came to an end on Wednesday night for the Magnolia Hotshots when they defeated the Alaska Aces, 102-86, in Game 6 of the 2018 PBA Governors&#x27; Cup finals. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News</figcaption></figure></div>ANTIPOLO—(UPDATED) A four-year title drought came to an end on Wednesday night for the Magnolia Hotshots when they defeated the Alaska Aces, 102-86, in Game 6 of the 2018 PBA Governors&#x27; Cup finals at the Ynares Center here.It was an early Christmas present for the Hotshots as they wrapped up the best-of-7 series, four games to two, to clinch their first PBA crown in four years.Magnolia&#x27;s last championship had come in the 2014 PBA Governors&#x27; Cup when San Mig Coffee, the Hotshots&#x27; team name at the time, defeated Rain Or Shine in five games to complete a Grand Slam under coach Tim Cone.From there, the Purefoods franchise took a long road back to the top of the PBA mountain, a journey that saw them trade longtime team cornerstone James Yap to Rain Or Shine in exchange for Paul Lee in 2016. Two years later, Lee would drain the game-winning jumper in Game 5 that put the Hotshots on the brink of a title; in Game 6, he had 16 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists.Romeo Travis, who played for Alaska in the 2015 Governors&#x27; Cup, led the way for the Hotshots with 32 points, 17 rebounds, and 6 assists. Ian Sangalang (16) and Mark Barroca (13) also reached double-digit scoring for Magnolia.Barroca was named finals MVP, the second time in his career that he won the award after the 2013-14 Philippine Cup. He averaged 11 points, 3.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.8 steals per game in the Finals series. <div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/sports/12/19/20181219-pba.jpg"/><figcaption>Romeo Travis led the way for Magnolia with 32 points and 17 rebounds. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News</figcaption></figure></div><div>Quick start</div>The Hotshots opened the game with a 12 unanswered points, capped by back-to-back lay-ups by Mark Barroca and Romeo Travis that compelled Alaska coach Alex Compton to call a quick timeout. Following the break in action, the Aces finally got on the board thanks to three-pointers by Chris Banchero and Kevin Racal.But Magnolia had an answer for every bucket. After two free throws by Racal made it a seven-point game, 19-12, with five minutes left, the Hotshots uncorked an 11-2 run to surge ahead by double digits once more, 30-14. Jio Jalalon shone in the run, assisting on buckets for Travis and spinning into the lane for lay-ups.The Aces again trimmed the deficit to seven points, 44-37, with 5:10 left in the second period thanks to two charities by Mike Harris. But Rodney Brondial scored off a putback, and Lee and Barroca each drained three-points for a 52-37 edge.Travis put his personal stamp on the game in the final minute of the first half as he drilled a triple with 20.3 seconds to go, then soundly rejected Cruz&#x27;s attempt at the buzzer to send the Hotshots into the break with a commanding 60-42 lead.The 18-point cushion was insurmountable for Alaska. Try as they might, the Aces were never able to bring the lead to below 10 points in the second half.The Hotshots led by as many as 20, 85-65, after Lee drilled a three-pointer with 10:30 to play in the game. Alaska&#x27;s last rally came with 4:32 left, after Simon Enciso scored 5 straight points to make it a 12-point game, 91-79. But Barroca nailed a floater in Magnolia&#x27;s next possession, and the Hotshots cruised to victory from there.<div>‘SMC-slam’</div>Barroca also had 5 rebounds and 4 assists, while Jio Jalalon finished with 11 points and 5 dimes. The Hotshots made 47% of their field goals, and converted 10 three-pointers to fuel their offense.Alaska was led by Harris, who finished with 26 points and 24 rebounds. Banchero had 20 points, while Jeron Teng added 14 points. However, the Aces got little from their other offensive threats, and they shot only 36% from the field all throughout the game. Moreover, they struggled to keep up with the Hotshots&#x27; movement, and could never claw their way out of the early hole that Magnolia put them in.With the triumph, the Purefoods franchise now has 14 PBA titles, tying them with Alaska for second most in the PBA. The San Miguel Beer franchise still owns the record with 25. Chito Victolero also became the 14th former PBA player to win a title as head coach.Magnolia&#x27;s triumph also ensured that all three conferences of the PBA&#x27;s 43rd season were ruled by a team from the San Miguel Corporation. San Miguel triumphed in the Philippine Cup, followed by Barangay Ginebra&#x27;s victory in the Commissioner&#x27;s Cup.<div>The Scores</div>Magnolia 102 - Travis 32, Sangalang 16, Lee 16, Barroca 13, Jalalon 11, Dela Rosa 7, Herndon 5, Brondial 2, Melton 0, Reavis 0.Alaska 86 - Harris 26, Banchero 20, Teng 14, Enciso 9, Cruz 6, Racal 5, Baclao 4, Thoss 2, Pascual 0, Casio 0, Galliguez 0, Magat 0.Quarters: 32-18, 60-42, 80-63, 102-86.For more sports coverage, visit the <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com/">ABS-CBN Sports website</a>.

(UPDATED) A four-year title drought came to an end on Wednesday night for the Magnolia Hotshots when they defeated the Alaska Aces, 102-86, in Game 6 of the 2018 PBA Governors' Cup finals at the Ynares Center here.

(UPDATED) A four-year title drought came to an end on Wednesday night for the Magnolia Hotshots when they defeated the Alaska Aces, 102-86, in Game 6 of the 2018 PBA Governors' Cup finals at the Ynares Center here.

PBA: Magnolia throttles Alaska to win Governors' Cup title

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PBA: Magnolia throttles Alaska to win Governors' Cup title

Camille B. Naredo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Dec 19, 2018 09:26 PM PHT

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Updated Dec 19, 2018 10:28 PM PHT

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PBA

2018 PBA Governors' Cup

Alaska

Magnolia

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