Balanced Magnolia attack seals win in PBA q'finals opener

MANILA, Philippines - Magnolia took opposing imports Jason Dixon and Brandon Dean out of the equation and the Beverage Masters went on to post a rousing 108-96 win over the Coca-Cola Tigers in Game One of their quarterfinals series in the Smart-Philippine Basketball Association Fiesta Cup Sunday at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City. The Beverage Masters held the two Coke imports to a combined 14 points which they used as springboard in clinching the lopsided victory. Up 1-0 in their best-of-three series, the Beverage Masters can formally secure a berth in the semifinals with a repeat over Coca-Cola in Game 2 on Wednesday. “We somehow played good defense on Dixon, and at the same time caught him on an off night," said Magnolia coach Siot Tanquingcen. “In a short series, this [win] is good. But it still doesn’t mean anything. “Knowing coach Binky [Favis], he will dissect the game and make adjustments in the next game." Lordy Tugade shared scoring honors with import Amal McCaskill scoring 20 points each. The former National U standout was hot from the field as he shot six-of-11 while he showed aggressiveness off the boards after grabbing a personal-conference best of 15 rebounds. Coke’s local players tried to carry the fight , but came up short in the end as they badly missed the offense of both Dixon and Dean. Dean, coming in as a last-minute replacement for Donald Copelamd, had only eight points in his league debut, while Dixon was limited to his personal conference-worst six markers. Dixon, whose previous low of seven points were against against Ginebra and Magnolia, was uncharacteristically off-form from the start. He only took eight shots the entire game and converted only three, while Dean missed seven straight attempts after connecting on his first shot of the night, a triple. With Dean groping for form and Dixon held scoreless, the Tigers trailed by 12 after the first 12 minutes and 51-41 at the half. With their two imports struggling on the floor, Nic Belasco and Asi Taulava took care of business for Coke. The duo combined for 23 points, more than half of the team’s total in the first two quarters, with Belasco topscoring with 14, nine of them coming in the second period. McCaskill steered the Beverage Masters off to a fast start, dropping nine points against a listless Tigers defense and allowing Magnolia to take a double digit cushion early on. The scores Magnolia 108 - McCaskill 20, Tugade 20, Cortez 18, Hontiveros 13, Ildefonso 13, Pingris 8, Bono 7, Pena 6, Racela 3, Villanueva 0, Gonzales 0 Coke 96 - Taulava 20, Belasco 17, Buenafe 15, Cabagnot 12, Macapagal 9, Catli 9, Dean 8, Dixon 6, Dimaunahan 0, Misolas 0 Quarterscores: 30-18, 51-41, 76-72, 108-96 – GMANews.TV