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Tag: Magnolia Hotshots

  • “Calvin is just being Calvin”: LA Tenorio says exchange with Calvin Abueva was simply brotherly advice

    “Calvin is just being Calvin”: LA Tenorio says exchange with Calvin Abueva was simply brotherly advice

    What was supposed to be a straightforward 106-94 victory for the Magnolia Hotshots over the Converge FiberXers instead turned into another chapter of intensity surrounding Calvin Abueva, whose presence once again defined the emotional tone of the game.


    The Hotshots moved into a joint seventh spot in the standings alongside San Miguel in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup, but the final scoreline was only part of the story as physical play, trash talk, and multiple confrontations unfolded throughout the contest at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

     

    Magnolia head coach LA Tenorio found himself briefly drawn into the emotional exchanges with Abueva, who once played under him during earlier professional stops.

     

    “Calvin is just being Calvin. Even when we were playing against each other, he has been like that. He’s the type of player that if you’re irritated by him, talo ka.” said Tenorio.

     

    The tension began escalating late in the third quarter, when Abueva was pulled down while posting up against Alfaro, immediately triggering frustration from the veteran forward. Moments later, in transition, he attempted to disrupt a drive by Magnolia’s Paul Lee but ended up making contact with Lee’s wrist in a contested play, further fueling the rivalry on the floor.

     

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    Tenorio later described his interaction with Abueva as more mentorship than confrontation.

    “So it’s just me talking to Calvin and being his kuya also, reminding him to just keep playing,” the former veteran player and now head coach of Magnolia said.

     

    The fourth quarter saw the situation peak. Abueva was first slapped with a technical foul after exchanging words with officials, then just seconds later was involved in another controversial sequence when he caught Zavier Lucero with an elbow in mid-air, resulting in a flagrant foul. Fortunately, Lucero avoided injury and still delivered a strong all-around performance.

     

    “I’m alright, I’m alright,” said the former UP Fighting Maroons.

     

    After the game, Abueva declined to speak to reporters, having already been sanctioned earlier in the conference for comments deemed detrimental to the league.

     

    Tenorio, meanwhile, downplayed the sideline exchange after the final buzzer.

     

    “Wala siya. Nag-walkout din siya. Again, it’s just Calvin being Calvin,” he said.

     

    Despite the emotional undercurrent, Magnolia walked away with the crucial win as they prepare for a tougher stretch ahead, including a matchup against the unbeaten Rain or Shine Elasto Painters on April 25. Converge, on the other hand, looks to regroup quickly as it faces TNT on April 22 at the same venue.

     

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  • Delta Pineda pins Converge’s PBA struggles on import Kylor Kelley 

    Delta Pineda pins Converge’s PBA struggles on import Kylor Kelley 

    The Converge FiberXers continue to search for answers in the 2026 PBA Commissioner’s Cup, as their struggles deepened following another disappointing outing on Sunday, April 20, at the Ynares Center in Antipolo. With a 94-106 loss to the Magnolia Hotshots, Converge slipped further down the standings, now holding a 2-6 record and languishing in 11th place.

     

    It was a game that once again exposed the team’s ongoing issues, particularly on the import front. Much of the spotlight fell on Kylor Kelley, whose underwhelming performance raised further questions about his role moving forward. In 26 minutes of action, Kelley finished with just seven points, six rebounds, and a steal, posting a -4 plus-minus despite a flawless 3-of-3 shooting clip from the field. While efficient in limited attempts, his lack of overall impact was evident, especially when matched up against Magnolia’s dominant import, Clint Chapman.

     

    Chapman delivered a commanding performance, leading all scorers with 22 points while anchoring the paint with 14 rebounds. He also contributed three assists and two blocks, proving to be a two-way force that Converge simply could not contain. His presence underscored the stark contrast between the two imports and played a pivotal role in Magnolia’s convincing victory.

     

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    Following the game, Converge head coach Delta Pineda did not mince words when addressing Kelley’s performance, pointing to it as a key factor in the team’s defeat.

     

    “Ito yung pinakamababang production niya,” Pineda said after the game.

    While Kelley has posted respectable averages of 13.2 points, 16.4 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game throughout the conference, his inconsistency has become a growing concern for the coaching staff. Pineda acknowledged that the team is already weighing its options, including the possibility of bringing in a replacement import as they attempt to salvage their campaign.

     

    “We are planning, pero sunud-sunod yung araw kasi. I don’t know kung aabot pa. But for now, ang adjustment namin for the next game either we have an import or not, I would like na ma-maximize namin yung mga locals,” he added.

     

    The compressed schedule presents an additional challenge, leaving little room for major roster changes. Still, the urgency is clear, as Converge risks falling further behind in the standings with each loss. Pineda emphasized that regardless of the import situation, the team must find ways to elevate the contributions of its local core moving forward.

     

    Despite the mounting pressure, Kelley is expected to get at least one more opportunity to prove his worth. Converge is set to face TNT Tropang Giga on Wednesday, April 22, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium—a crucial matchup that could determine the team’s next course of action.

     

    “If he will not perform in the next game, labas. Susugalan na namin yung locals namin,” he concluded.

     

    With their playoff hopes hanging in the balance, the FiberXers find themselves at a crossroads. Whether through a change in personnel or a renewed collective effort, Converge must respond quickly—or risk seeing their Commissioner’s Cup campaign slip further out of reach.

     

     

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  • Clint Chapman powers Magnolia’s bounce-back as Hotshots take advantage of import-less Beermen

    Clint Chapman powers Magnolia’s bounce-back as Hotshots take advantage of import-less Beermen

    Still reeling from a tough loss, the Hotshots found clarity and rhythm at the perfect time, riding an inspired performance from import Clint Chapman to dismantle San Miguel, 120-101, in the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.


    What could have been a tricky matchup turned into an opportunity seized. With San Miguel missing its import Justin Patton, Magnolia leaned into Chapman and delivered his most complete game yet.

     

    The 6-foot-10 reinforcement erupted for 34 points, alongside six rebounds and two assists, steering Magnolia to a much-needed lift in the standings at 3-4. 

     

    While Chapman anchored the charge, Magnolia’s cohesion told the bigger story. The Hotshots moved the ball with purpose, piling up 36 assists while knocking down 10 of 19 attempts from beyond the arc. 

     

    Their defensive pressure also proved decisive, turning 13 San Miguel turnovers into 24 points.

    San Miguel, playing all-Filipino without Patton—who had missed practices following their loss to Rain or Shine, leaned on Cjay Perez to carry the scoring load. 

     

    He responded with 23 points, while Mo Tautuaa and Jericho Cruz chipped in 13 apiece. But the Beermen struggled to match Magnolia’s balance and pace.

     

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    Even Magnolia head coach LA Tenorio admitted the unexpected nature of San Miguel’s lineup shift caught them off guard, but not unprepared.

     

    “I told them that this team (San Miguel) is dangerous without an import. They are the all-Filipino champions for a reason. I challenged them kasi mas nakakatakot kalaban San Miguel kapag all-Fiipino,” Tenorio said.

     

    That mindset translated into execution. Supporting Chapman, the trio of Jerrick Ahanmisi, Zavier Lucero, and Ian Sangalang combined for 36 points, ensuring the Hotshots never lost control.

     

    Tenorio also emphasized growth through adversity, pointing to how the team responded after their previous defeat.

     

    “I keep on challenging them every practice, and sometimes the things I say to them are tough to hear, but it’s for us to grow as a team. Tonight, I have to give credit to my players after a tough loss last Friday, and that’s what we needed,” Tenorio added.

     

    With momentum back on their side, Magnolia now looks to string together wins as it prepares to face the struggling Converge FiberXers on April 19 at Ynares Center in Antipolo.

     

    San Miguel, meanwhile, heads into its next assignment searching for answers as it braces for a tough test against the NLEX Road Warriors, hoping to halt its early skid.

     

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  • Manila Clasico: Ginebra aims for rebound, Magnolia hunts for third win 

    Manila Clasico: Ginebra aims for rebound, Magnolia hunts for third win 

    The Manila Clasico has never needed extra fuel—but Friday night’s showdown brings a different kind of tension: urgency.

     

    Barangay Ginebra and Magnolia arrive at the Mall of Asia Arena chasing more than bragging rights. They’re chasing stability in a conference where every win swings momentum, and every loss leaves a mark.

     

    Tip-off is set at 7:30 p.m., with both squads stuck in the middle of the pack in the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup. Ginebra sits at 2-2, tied for seventh, while Magnolia is just behind at 2-3—close enough that one result could flip their trajectories.

     

    But beyond the standings, this clash is shaped by contrasting currents.

     

    Ginebra enters with something to prove. A painful 82-85 collapse against San Miguel Beer saw them squander a 15-point cushion, exposing cracks late in the game. That defeat didn’t just cost them a win—it cost them rhythm.

     

    Magnolia, meanwhile, is trending in the opposite direction. After stumbling out of the gate at 0-3, the Hotshots have found life behind a reshuffled core and the arrival of import Clint Chapman. In just two games, Chapman has stabilized the middle and unlocked a more fluid Magnolia attack, helping fuel back-to-back wins—a 121-109 surge past Macau and an 85-70 dismantling of Terrafirma.

     

    Still, Magnolia’s push isn’t just about its import. The locals have quietly taken charge, with Zavier Lucero and Jerom Lastimosa anchoring the offense at 17 and 14 points per game, respectively. Their scoring has given Magnolia balance—allowing Chapman to complement rather than carry.

     

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    On the other side, Ginebra’s engine remains as clear as ever: Justin Brownlee.

     

    The resident import is putting together another dominant conference, leading all scorers with 35.3 points per game while stuffing the stat sheet with 5 rebounds and 7.2 assists. Whether it’s creating, finishing, or rescuing broken plays, Brownlee continues to be the constant.

     

    Rising guard RJ Abarrientos has added another dimension to Ginebra’s attack, emerging as one of the top local scorers in the league with 21.8 points per game. His shot-making has given the Gin Kings a needed secondary punch, especially in tight stretches.

     

    Adding another layer to the narrative is Magnolia coach LA Tenorio, facing his former team and longtime mentor Tim Cone. But Tenorio isn’t buying into the storyline.

     

    “We’ll be ready not because it’s Ginebra, and Manila Clasico, but because we need to get ready because we’re still below .500 in the standings,” said Tenorio, still in the process of steadying the ship after a 0-3 start with original import Nuni Omot.

     

    He knows the challenge ahead all too well. “I know Ginebra will be ready after the bad loss last game. I know coach Tim, he’s gonna make his team ready going into Friday’s game.”

     

    And that’s the underlying truth of this rivalry—form often fades once the ball is tipped. Because no matter the standings, no matter the streaks, Manila Clasico games tend to boil down to the smallest margins: a defensive stop, a loose ball, a final shot hanging in the air.

     

    And when that moment comes, everything else—records, runs, and narratives—takes a back seat.

     

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  • LA Tenorio keeps Magnolia grounded ahead of ‘Manila Clasico’ game against former team Ginebra 

    LA Tenorio keeps Magnolia grounded ahead of ‘Manila Clasico’ game against former team Ginebra 

    For most teams, a Manila Clasico is the kind of game that naturally pulls attention away from everything else.

     

    The buildup is louder, the emotions are heavier, and the spotlight almost always grows bigger than the actual standings. But for LA Tenorio, Magnolia’s upcoming showdown with Barangay Ginebra is not a night to get swept up in nostalgia or noise.

     

    It is, more than anything, another chance to keep his team moving in the right direction.

     

    Now in the middle of trying to steer Magnolia out of an early hole in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup, Tenorio has made it clear that the Hotshots cannot afford to treat Friday like just a rivalry event. 

     

    For him, the bigger concern is still what kind of team Magnolia is becoming under his watch.

    “Manila Clasico, it’s a big game for the PBA, for the fans, but overall as a team we are really focusing on the things that we want to worry about, the things that we need to get better,” said the 41-year-old.

     

    “‘Yun ang importante sa amin.”

     

    That mindset came into sharper focus after Magnolia’s 85-70 win over Terrafirma on Tuesday, a result that gave the Hotshots their second straight victory after opening the conference with three losses.

     

    The win did not suddenly erase the flaws of Magnolia’s shaky start, but it did offer another sign that the team may finally be finding some traction. With new import Clint Chapman once again leading the way and the veterans settling in around him, the Hotshots have at least begun to look more like themselves.

     

    Still, Tenorio is not acting like the turnaround is complete. Even with the momentum of back-to-back wins, he knows Magnolia is still trying to climb out of a hole — and that the record says there is still plenty of work left to do.

     

    “We’ll be ready also not because it’s Ginebra, and Manila Clasico, but because we need to get ready because we’re still below .500 in the standings,” pointed out the former star PG as they’ve only hiked their record to 2-3.

     

    That may be the most telling part of how Tenorio is approaching this stretch. For someone whose own playing career was deeply tied to Ginebra and to many of the biggest rivalry games in the league, it would have been easy to lean into the emotional side of facing his former team again. Instead, he has chosen to frame the matchup through urgency and development.

     

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    That says a lot about where Magnolia is right now.

     

    The Hotshots are not entering Friday as a team chasing drama. They are entering it as a team trying to stabilize its campaign, level its record, and continue adjusting to the new system being introduced by a first-year head coach still shaping the group in his own image.

     

    That challenge becomes even tougher considering the opponent. Ginebra is coming off an 85-82 loss to San Miguel, a game in which the Kings let a 15-point lead slip away before falling on a late Don Trollano corner three. It was the kind of defeat that tends to sharpen the focus of Tim Cone-coached teams rather than shake them.

     

    And Tenorio knows that better than most. Having spent years under Cone and with Ginebra, he understands exactly how dangerous the Kings can become after a frustrating loss. That familiarity is not making him comfortable — if anything, it is making him more cautious.

     

    “I know Ginebra will be ready after the bad loss last game. I know Coach Tim, he’s gonna make his team ready going into Friday’s game,” he said.

     

    That is part of what makes this version of the Manila Clasico a little more layered than usual.

    On one side is a Ginebra team trying to recover quickly and get back above .500. On the other is a Magnolia squad beginning to string wins together, but still trying to define itself under a new voice on the sidelines.

     

    And somewhere in the middle of all that is Tenorio, one of the most recognizable former faces of the rivalry, now trying to lead from the other bench without letting the occasion distract from the process.

     

    That may be his biggest task right now. Because while Friday’s game will naturally come with all the energy and emotional charge that Manila Clasico always carries, Magnolia’s season will not be decided by one rivalry result alone. 

     

    What matters more is whether the Hotshots continue to grow sharper, more disciplined, and more comfortable in the way Tenorio wants them to play.

     

    That is the part he seems most locked in on. “Yes, it’s Manila Clasico, it’s big, probably bigger than any of the normal games, but I’m not worried about that. I’m worried about us, how we will play on Friday, and then after Friday. ‘Yun lang yung importante sa akin ngayon,” he said.

     

    And for Magnolia, that may be exactly the right mindset to have. Because if the Hotshots are going to turn their campaign around for real, it cannot just be about winning the loudest games. It has to be about becoming steady enough to win beyond them too.

     

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  • Clint Chapman anchors Magnolia’s revival as defense fuels back-to-back wins

    Clint Chapman anchors Magnolia’s revival as defense fuels back-to-back wins

    In just two games, import Clint Chapman has helped reshape Magnolia’s identity, steering the team to its second straight win with an 85-70 victory over Terrafirma Dyip on Tuesday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.


    Chapman delivered 28 points, 11 rebounds, three assists, and two blocks—an all-around effort that immediately endeared him to fans. But beyond the stat sheet, it’s the shift in mentality that has stood out most.

     

    After trailing 42-40 at halftime, the Hotshots flipped the script in the second half by leaning fully into defense wherein Terrafirma was held to 70 points, matching its average but doing so under relentless pressure that made every basket a grind.

     

    “Reasoning behind our little bit of sloppy offense in the first half,” Chapman said. “But to hold the team to 70 points that’s been averaging 70 per game, that’s the kind of basketball we want to play.

     

    “(Coach LA Tenorio) told us before the game that all we have to do is to win by one point, and obviously we did more than that. But to hold a team to 70 points is something that’s gonna get us wins in this league,” added by the import.

     

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    For head coach LA Tenorio, the emphasis has been clear from the start—defense first, everything else follows.

     

    “We actually had a slow start offensively, but defensively we were on track,” Tenorio said. 

     

    “We can score anytime, but the question is, can we get a stop? That’s the challenge I always put to my players,” he added.

     

    That defensive mindset is beginning to spread across the roster. Zavier Lucero chipped in 13 points, eight rebounds, and three blocks, while Rome Dela Rosa and Paul Lee provided steady support on both ends.

     

    Even Terrafirma’s top weapon, Jerrick Ahanmisi, felt the pressure. He finished with 21 points but needed 20 shots to get there, including a tough 2-of-10 clip from beyond the arc.

     

    The arrival of Chapman, who replaced Nuni Omot has not only stabilized Magnolia’s interior presence but also given the team a clear blueprint moving forward.

     

    From a 0-3 start to a budding win streak, the Hotshots suddenly look like a team rediscovering its edge at the right time.

     

    That renewed confidence will be tested immediately, with marquee matchups looming against Barangay Ginebra San Miguel at the Mall of Asia Arena and San Miguel Beermen at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

     

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  • Magnolia part ways with Nuni Omot, taps in Clint Chapman as replacement

    Magnolia part ways with Nuni Omot, taps in Clint Chapman as replacement

    The early stretch of the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup has taken an unexpected turn for the Magnolia Hotshots, as the winless squad makes a bold roster move in search of a breakthrough.

     

    Still searching for their first win, Magnolia didn’t wait for the standings to bury them deeper. Instead, they made a decisive shift, one that signals urgency more than anything else. 

     

    Despite strong individual performances, the team has chosen to part ways with import Nuni Omot and bring in reinforcement Clint Chapman.

     

    In what turned out to be his final game in a Magnolia jersey, Omot delivered a near-complete performance, 38 points on 15-of-22 shooting, along with seven rebounds and nine assists. Across his stint, he averaged 32.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 6.0 assists while shooting an impressive 43.8 percent from beyond the arc. 

     

    Even head coach LA Tenorio acknowledged as much after their latest setback, a 97-91 loss to Robert Upshaw III and the Blackwater Bossing at the Ynares Center, “is not all about the import.”

     

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    Still, results ultimately dictate decisions and with Magnolia stuck in a losing skid, the team opted for a different kind of presence on the court.

     

    Chapman, a 6-foot-10 big man with a decade-long professional journey that has taken him across Europe and Asia. Fresh from a stint with Antonine in Lebanon’s DLBL, he brings with him averages of 17.9 points, 7.4 rebounds, and solid defensive numbers. 

     

    Chapman has already arrived in Manila and joined team practices, wasting no time integrating into Magnolia’s system. His expected debut comes quickly, with the Hotshots set to face winless Macau at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on March 28.

     

    For Magnolia, the import change is less about replacing production and more about reshaping the team’s identity. Omot carried the scoring load, but basketball games aren’t won on numbers alone. 

     

    The Hotshots are betting that Chapman’s presence can unlock a different rhythm, one that translates into wins.

     

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  • “Trust the process”: LA Tenorio urges patience amid Magnolia’ struggles in the PBA

    “Trust the process”: LA Tenorio urges patience amid Magnolia’ struggles in the PBA

    The Magnolia Hotshots are still searching for answers after a difficult start to the ongoing Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup, dropping their first three games to remain winless in the tournament.

     

    Magnolia’s struggles continued on Sunday, March 22, as they absorbed a 97–91 defeat at the hands of the Blackwater Bossing at the Ynares Center in Antipolo. The loss was particularly notable as it marked Magnolia’s first defeat to Blackwater since the 2021 Governors’ Cup, underscoring the team’s early-season woes and inconsistency on both ends of the floor.

     

    Despite the disappointing run, head coach LA Tenorio remains focused on the bigger picture, urging his players to stay patient as they adjust to a new system and continue to develop chemistry.

     

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    “It was really a heartbreak. But again, I was telling the players to really just keep on fighting. A lot of work to do especially on, again, it’s like putting on a new system. Masyadong matagal ‘yung habits na meron sila. We just keep on working, telling the players to trust the process,” Tenorio said in the postmatch press conference.

     

    The former PBA star acknowledged that Magnolia is currently in a transition phase, fielding a relatively young core that is still learning how to navigate high-pressure situations, particularly late in games. While the results have yet to follow, Tenorio expressed confidence that the team’s commitment to improvement will eventually pay dividends.

     

    “We might not win this conference, may mga ganung bagay ‘yan, but down the road, we are going to get our share of wins as long as we continue on working and staying positive about it. I want the players to stay positive all the time. We are really working hard in practice, no doubt. The thing is, siyempre, we have to translate it in the game. ‘Yung young team na ‘to, a lot of things that we need not only physically but mentally as well.

    “They have to learn how to play down the stretch. This is a young team so what do you expect? What I like with this team is they work hard everyday. They are willing to learn. They are willing to get better every day. They are listening,” he added.

     

    Through three games, Magnolia has shown flashes of competitiveness but has struggled to sustain momentum, particularly in crunch time where execution and decision-making have proven costly. Defensive lapses and inconsistent support from the local core have also hampered their ability to close out tight contests.

     

    One bright spot, however, has been the stellar play of import Nuni Omot, who delivered an all-around performance in the loss with 38 points, seven rebounds, and nine assists. Omot has been a consistent offensive engine for Magnolia, showcasing his ability to score from multiple levels while also creating opportunities for his teammates.

     

    Still, Tenorio emphasized that the team cannot rely solely on its import, calling on the local players to step up and contribute in meaningful ways.

     

    “We are playing good basketball because of our import. So what is happening to us is not all about the import. That’s what I’m telling my players. It’s still the locals. They have to share doing the little things for the imports,” Tenorio concluded.

     

    As the losses pile up, Magnolia finds itself in urgent need of a turnaround to keep its playoff hopes alive. The team will look to regroup during a short break, using the time to refine its system, build cohesion, and address key weaknesses on both ends of the court.

     

    The Hotshots return to action on Saturday, March 28, when they take on guest team Macau Black Knights at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. With time slowly becoming a factor in the conference format, Magnolia will be eager to finally break into the win column and spark a much-needed change in momentum.

     

     

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  • PBA admits missed backcourt call in Magnolia loss to NLEX

    PBA admits missed backcourt call in Magnolia loss to NLEX

    The Philippine Basketball Association has acknowledged a crucial officiating lapse that played a key role in shifting momentum during the Magnolia Hotshots’ 112-105 loss to the NLEX Road Warriors in the Commissioner’s Cup.

     

    In a game that was still up for grabs entering the fourth quarter, the league admitted a backcourt violation should have been called on Kevin Alas during a sequence that ultimately sparked a decisive NLEX run.

     

    With the score tied at 84-all and 10:55 remaining, Alas — already in the frontcourt and close to stepping out of bounds — passed the ball back to JB Bahio, who had not yet crossed midcourt. The play went uncalled, despite meeting the criteria for a backcourt violation.

     

    The missed infraction immediately drew protests from Magnolia’s bench, led by head coach LA Tenorio, who stepped onto the court to question the decision.

     

    Instead of a turnover, however, Magnolia was assessed a technical foul after Tenorio’s outburst.

    Alas converted the free throw, and on the ensuing possession, Tony Semerad buried a three-pointer — turning what could have been Magnolia possession into a four-point swing in favor of NLEX.

     

    From there, the Road Warriors seized control.

     

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    The sequence broke the deadlock and gave NLEX an 88-84 lead, a cushion it would not relinquish as Magnolia was forced to chase the game the rest of the way.

     

    While the league’s admission confirmed what Magnolia had argued in real time, the ruling came too late to change the outcome.

     

    The loss dropped the Hotshots to 0-2 in the conference, marking their first winless start through two games in three seasons, or since the Season 47 Governors’ Cup.

     

    That campaign saw Magnolia recover from an 0-3 start behind a mid-conference import change, eventually finishing strong enough to reach the playoffs — a reminder that early setbacks are not always definitive.

     

    Still, this latest defeat carries added frustration. Beyond the result, it underscores how a single missed call — now officially acknowledged — can alter the course of a game.

     

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  • Magnolia, Phoenix seek fresh start in Commissioner’s Cup; Blackwater, NLEX clash in early test

    Magnolia, Phoenix seek fresh start in Commissioner’s Cup; Blackwater, NLEX clash in early test

    Two teams looking to rewrite their recent fortunes collide when the Magnolia Hotshots and the Phoenix Fuel Masters open their campaigns in the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup Friday night at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

     

    Magnolia enters the 7:30 p.m. main game eager to bounce back after falling short of the semifinals in the Philippine Cup. The Hotshots finished sixth in the eliminations before being eliminated by the TNT Tropang 5G, 118-109, in the quarterfinals—marking a disappointing end to their first conference under head coach LA Tenorio.

     

    Meanwhile, Phoenix hopes to quickly move past a difficult All-Filipino campaign where the Fuel Masters finished 10th with a 3-8 record.

     

    Both squads will lean heavily on their imports in the early going. Magnolia is banking on the inside presence of Terrell Brown-Soares, a 6-foot-10 big man known for his rim protection and rebounding, along with a perimeter touch that has impressed in stints across Europe.

     

    The Fuel Masters counter with their own interior anchor in James Dickey, another 6-foot-10 veteran who has built a strong international résumé with stops in Germany, Israel, and Indonesia after a decorated college career at UNC Greensboro. Dickey left the Spartans as the school’s all-time leader in rebounds with 1,060 while ranking second in blocks with 222.

     

    Phoenix is also ushering in a new era with Charles Tiu making his debut as a PBA head coach. Tiu, who previously won championships in the NCAA and the Jones Cup, will look to guide a roster featuring familiar names such as Jason Perkins, Kai Ballungay, Tyler Tio, Ken Tuffin, Ricci Rivero, and Evan Nelle.

     

     

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    Also joining the team is rookie Will Gozum, the eighth overall pick in the Season 50 draft and a former cornerstone player under Tiu during their championship run with St. Benilde.

     

    Earlier in the evening, the Blackwater Bossing and the NLEX Road Warriors square off in the 5:15 p.m. curtain raiser.

     

    Blackwater will lean on high-scoring guard Sedrick Barefield, who averaged 19.2 points per game in the previous conference to finish among the league’s top scorers.

     

    Across the floor, NLEX will turn to its floor general Robert Bolick, who led the league in assists last conference while also serving as the Road Warriors’ offensive engine. Bolick has repeatedly shown his ability to take over games, including a 20-point outing that powered NLEX to a win over Blackwater in a previous meeting.

     

    Supporting Bolick are key contributors such as Kevin Alas and JB Bahio, whose balanced production has helped NLEX maintain a competitive edge in recent matchups against the Bossing.

     

    With both games marking the start of new campaigns, the opening night matchups offer four teams a chance to quickly set the tone for what promises to be a tightly contested Commissioner’s Cup.

     

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