NorthPort's Venkatesha Jois tries to deny Magnolia's Tyler Bey during Friday's PBA action. Dennis Gasgonia, ABS-CBN News
(UPDATED) Magnolia used a massive first quarter to blast NorthPort with a 112-74 blowout in the PBA Commissioner's Cup on Friday at the Araneta Coliseum.
Magnolia operated like a well-oiled machine on Friday while dominating NorthPort, leading by as much as 38 points before picking up a third successive win.
Five Hotshots delivered double-digit outputs in the rout. Tyler Bey led the way with 25 points and eight rebounds, while Mark Barroca and Paul Lee had 17 and 16 markers, respectively.
Jio Jalalon and Ian Sangalang scored 11 points each.
The Hotshots clipped Arvin Tolentino, whose stellar outing led the Batang Pier to two successive wins, limiting the power forward to just two points in the first half.
This allowed Magnolia to hold NorthPort to just eight points in the first quarter, while the Hotshots went on a 28-point scoring binge.
The Batang Pier found their bearing in the second quarter, but Bey and Sangalang made huge strides for the Hotshots' 56-30 halftime lead.
Lee and Jalalon joined the fray in the third period, inflicting more damage against NorthPort to hike Magnolia's advantage to 31 points.
Tolentino started making his shots in this period, but given the Hotshots' huge lead, the Batang Pier were already beyond saving.
Magnolia coach Chito Victolero said their dominant victory was a preparation for their big game against Barangay Ginebra on Sunday.
"A clasico is a clasico. We expect a very hard game on Sunday, we expect a big crowd... Hindi naman natin pwedeng kalimutan ang history between these teams. I think magiging magandang laban ito," he said during the post-game presser.
Tolentino finished with 22 points for the Batang Pier, while Jois settled for 16.
The scores:
MAGNOLIA 112 – Bey 25, Barroca 17, Lee 16, Sangalang 11, Jalalon 11, Laput 8, Escoto 5, Reavis 4, Corpuz 4, Dela Rosa 4, Corpuz 4, Dionisio 3, Eriobu 2, Tratter 2, Murrell 0, Ahanmisi 0
NORTHPORT 74 – Tolentino 22, Jois 16, Salado 8, Chan 6, Zamar 4, Flores 4, Caperal 3,Amores 2, Ayaay 2, Munzon 2, Paraiso 2, Taha 2, Yu 1, Balagasay 0
QUARTERS: 28-8, 56-30, 82-48, 112-74