Magnolia is staking its spotless record in the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup, taking on Phoenix in Zamboanga.
Zamboanga City braces for a hero’s welcome and a hardcourt battle as Mark Barroca and the undefeated Magnolia Hotshots face off against the rejuvenated Phoenix Fuel Masters on Saturday, April 26.
This PBA Philippine Cup showdown starts at 7:30 p.m.
Barroca, who hails from Zamboanga, returns to his roots with Magnolia riding a flawless 3-0 slate.
The Hotshots look to protect their unbeaten record after an electrifying 98-95 overtime win against powerhouse San Miguel before the Holy Week break—a victory that firmly established their contender status in the All-Filipino conference.
Apart from Barroca, Magnolia will also lean on rising stars Jerom Lastimosa and Zavier Lucero, whose unparalleled efforts have powered the Hotshots’ impressive start, while veteran big man Ian Sangalang provides a steady presence in the paint.
But Phoenix is no pushover. Now 1-2, the Fuel Masters finally broke through with a statement 109-97 win over defending champion Meralco and are determined to spoil the party in Zamboanga.
Magnolia, however, is motivated to stay perfect—especially in front of Barroca’s hometown crowd.
(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.]