Bolts bothered as Magnolia parades 'unconventional' defensive starting five

(Photo courtesy of PBA Images)

ONE change in the starting unit spelled a major difference for Magnolia Chicken Timplados to finally grab its first win in the PBA 50^th Season Governors’ Cup.

With defensive stopper Rome dela Rosa replacing point guard Jerom Lastimosa, the Hotshots put the clamps on Meralco early on the way to a breakthrough 112-98 win on Friday night at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.

While Lastimosa still thrived in an off-the-bench role with 13 points and five assists, Dela Rosa formed a big starting unit that featured import Kenyon Buffen, 6-foot-8 Clifford Jopia, and 6-foot-6 Zavier Lucero, alongside veteran point guard Mark Barroca.

“They started out with a different line-up, unconventional line-up,” Bolts coach Luigi Trillo said of Magnolia. “They started with guys who can switch: they had Barroca, Dela Rosa, Lucero. It was their defensive core.”

With the change, the Hotshots outrebounded the Bolts, 42-37, to snap a two-game losing streak as they never allowed Meralco to have a taste of the lead. 

“I think they tried to get us out of our flow. They got a big lead,” Trillo said as the Hotshots led by as many as 14 points.

“They beat us off the glass: 17 offensive rebounds. So we felt their despair.

 You felt their attention to detail. You felt them playing with a sense of urgency,” he added as the Bolts dropped to 2-2 in Group B.