SANGALANG RESURGENCE, CU NEAR-TRIPLE DOUBLE HIGHLIGHT SUNDAY COMEBACKS

BARANGAY Ginebra and Magnolia stretched their winning streak in the PBA Philippine Cup by pulling off similar victories over tough opponents at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

The Hotshots leaned on big-time plays by Ian Sangalang and Mark Barroca and the decent back-up provided by Abu Tratter and Joseph Eriobu to nip the Phoenix Fuel Masters, 107-93, after trailing by double digits at the half.

The Kings likewise rallied from a 10-point halftime deficit against Northport, 95-88, behind the near triple-double of rookie Ralph Cu.

Both Ginebra and Magnolia have won their last two outings to move up to the Nos. 3 and 4 spots on 5-3 and 3-2 records, respectively.

What are the takeaways in Sunday night’s doubleheader?

PHOTO: Jerome Ascano

1. Ian Sangalang is back in his element after his health issue with hyperthyroidism last year. The veteran big man out of San Sebastian came away again with huge numbers of 23 points, nine rebounds, and five assists against Phoenix in a fitting follow-up to his 32-point career game in Magnolia’s previous outing against Northport. The former NCAA MVP is averaging 27.5 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in the Hotshots’ last two games while shooting a high 64 percent from the field.

PHOTO: Jerome Ascano

2.Rookie Ralph Cu showed he belonged among the big boys after coming one assist short of a triple double against Northport. The former La Salle player and a part of the Ginebra 3x3 team in the past submitted season high numbers in points (24), rebounds (10), and assists (9), while converting 6-of-11 from three-point range. The Kings’ second round pick in the last draft came short of becoming the first rookie to record a triple double since Ginebra teammate Scottie Thompson did the trick in 2016.

3.A dampener on Ginebra’s huge win over Northport and Cu’s special night was the injury suffered by star forward Jamie Malonzo. The Gilas Pilipinas stalwart went down on his own in the final two seconds of the game when he seemed about to take off for a game-pleasing dunk. He sat on the playing court for some 10 minutes and had to be carried by Sidney Onwubere and Raymond Aguilar to the Ginebra dugout as he appeared favoring his left leg. Coach Tim Cone would not want to preempt the doctors’ prognosis, but mentioned that it could either be a calf injury or worse, an Achilles issue. Malonzo called it a night by finishing with 14 points, six rebounds, and four assists.

READ Malonzo injury a huge concern for Cone, Barangay Ginebra

PHOTO: Jerome Ascano

4) While eyes were on Malonzo’s injury, Northport’s sophomore big man JM Calma also hurt his left foot early in the game against Ginebra as he was trying to defend Christian Standhardinger at the low post. The winner of the Obstacle Challenge in the recent All-Star festivities appeared to have twisted his foot and went down in pain. He exited at the 6:25 mark of the first period and had four points. Calma no longer finished the game and went to the hospital for an Xray. He was later cleared of any fracture, but is still set to go an MRI test.

2024-04-15T12:15:32Z dg43tfdfdgfd