Although Magnolia started opened its campaign 12 days ago, the Hotshots look to build on their triumphant opening win as they take on the Titan Ultra Giant Risers in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup.
The Magnolia Hotshots aim to sustain their winning momentum when they face the Titan Ultra Giant Risers in the 2025 PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup on Friday, October 17.
Tip off is at 5:15 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
[RELATED STORY: Tenorio says Magnolia win isn’t about him but the players: ‘I’m just here to guide them’]
Fresh from a triumphant 80-73 victory over Barangay Ginebra in the season opener, Magnolia looks to make it two in a row under new head coach LA Tenorio. Impressive as it was, Tenorio downplayed his winning debut.
“It’s not about me. It’s about the players; it’s about the Magnolia team. Ako lang ang tinitignan dito. Pero in the bigger picture, it's really the team of Magnolia. I’m just here to guide them," said Tenorio after the match.
Zavier Lucero led the way for the Hotshots with a stellar all-around performance — 17 points, seven rebounds, four assists, four steals, and a block — showcasing his versatility on both ends of the court.
Jerom Lastimosa provided valuable support with 14 points, five assists, and two steals, while new recruit Javi Gomez de Liaño made an instant impact, drilling four triples to finish with 14 markers.
Magnolia will be banking on its balance of youth and experience to keep pace early in the conference standings. However, the Hotshots must not take Titan Ultra lightly.
The Giant Risers are coming off a humbling 129-92 defeat to Converge and will be hungry to bounce back, though it's not clear if they will be with star forward Calvin Abueva, who exited their last game with a hamstring injury.
[ALSO READ: PBA: Calvin Abueva sustains hamstring injury in Titan Ultra loss to Converge]
(With reports from Jan Ballesteros)
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[Editor’s note: This article was written by a member of the One Sports Digital with the help of AI, and then checked by the staff to ensure accuracy.]