Magnolia moves on to the Philippine Cup, where the Hotshots look to reassert themselves as a true title contender.
Mark Barroca and the Magnolia Hotshots are out to make a statement early as they open their PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup campaign against the Blackwater Bossing on Saturday, April 5.
The match starts at 5:00 p.m. at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Malate.
Following a quarterfinal exit in the Commissioner’s Cup, the Hotshots are eager to launch a deeper playoff push in the All-Filipino conference, where their battle-tested core thrives.
Barroca leads a familiar cast that includes veterans Paul Lee, Ian Sangalang, and Calvin Abueva, now bolstered by young guns Jerom Lastimosa and Zavier Lucero.
With no imports in the mix, Magnolia’s local firepower will be on full display as they aim to reassert themselves among the league’s elite—starting with a strong performance against a retooled Blackwater side.
(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.]