PBA: Magnolia Hotshots Crush Terrafirma Dyip with Explosive Second Quarter
Last Sunday, the Magnolia Hotshots continued their dominant run with a blowout 127–94 win over the Terrafirma Dyip. This clash happened as part of the 2025 PBA Philippine Cup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo. With this victory, Magnolia improved to 5-0, keeping their hold on the top spot in the standings. On the other hand, Terrafirma dropped their fourth straight game. This loss results in them falling to 1-4 after opening the conference with a win.
The game started on a competitive note, with Magnolia holding a slim 27–25 lead after the first quarter. But everything changed in the second period. The Hotshots exploded for a game-changing 38–7 run, which completely took the air out of Terrafirma. That quarter alone saw Magnolia score 38 points, while limiting Terrafirma to just seven.
Zavier Lucero and Jerick Ahanmisi combined for 14 of those points, fueling the momentum. Lucero hit a key three-pointer, followed by Ahanmisi’s strong drives to the basket. The run was capped off by an Ian Sangalang jumper, pushing the lead to a massive 65–32 advantage at halftime.
After that, Terrafirma never really recovered. Stanley Pringle tried to spark a comeback with a three-pointer that trimmed the lead to 24 points late in the third. But Magnolia quickly regained control and kept a comfortable lead throughout the second half. They continued to outwork Terrafirma on both ends, finishing the game with a commanding 33-point victory.
One of the biggest takeaways from the game was Magnolia’s depth. All 15 players who saw the floor scored at least one field goal. Zavier Lucero led the team with 17 points and nine rebounds, nearly recording a double-double. Paul Lee added 13 points, while Jerick Ahanmisi and Joseph Eriobu each scored 11.
The bench stepped up as well, with James Laput chipping in nine points. On the other hand, Jerom Lastimosa, Ian Sangalang, Rome dela Rosa, Jerick Balanza, and Calvin Abueva all contributed eight points apiece. This teamwork showed in how seamlessly they executed on both ends.
Despite the loss, Terrafirma had a few bright spots. Louie Sangalang stood out with an impressive stat line of 19 points, 12 rebounds, and 7 assists. Kevin Ferrer and Stanley Pringle also played solid games, each putting up 17 points. But overall, Terrafirma struggled to keep up with Magnolia’s pace and defensive pressure.
After the game, Magnolia head coach Chito Victolero kept things grounded. “Yes, we’re happy we have a good start compared to the last two conferences,” he said. “But we’re still far from our goal and we just need to keep working hard every time we prepare for a game.” He also praised his team’s overall effort, saying, “I’m very happy that everybody stepped up. Everybody contributed.”
With this win, Magnolia continues its hunt to end a seven-year PBA championship drought. They’re playing like serious contenders—deep, unselfish, and hungry. Up next, they face the NLEX Road Warriors on Sunday, May 11. Meanwhile, Terrafirma will look to regroup as they prepare to take on the TNT Tropang Giga on Friday, May 9.
From top to bottom, Magnolia showed why they’re the hottest team in the league right now. If they can keep up this level of play, a championship banner might not be too far off.
Photo: PBA Images
