Magnolia Beverage Masters Basketball Games Updates

Red-Hot Welcoat Dragons Burned Magnolia Beverage Masters

Was this a case of overconfidence by the Magnolia Beverage Masters? The team could have easily dispatch a team like the Welcoat Dragons, which has been the favorite whipping boys of the basketball league - but not tonight.

It's very evident that the team sorely missed the offensive power of forward Danny Seigle when the team needed to produce the needed points to catch up. Their defense also was not enough as the Welcoat imports devoured them by scoring big points.

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ERSTWHILE SLEEPING DRAGONS NOW FULLY AWAKE
After 15-game losing streak, Gainous-led Welcoat beats Magnolia Beverage Masters for 2nd straight win

Source: PBA.ph
Wednesday, 30 April 2008

Import Marquis Gainous scored 24 of his game-high 32 points in the second half, powering Welcoat to a 108-101 stunning win opposite Magnolia Beverage Masters at the resumption of the PBA Fiesta Conference Wednesday night at the Araneta Coliseum.

Gainous, who came up with his highest scoring ballgame in the conference, also provided the leadership and tenacity by playing tough defense on counterpart Jameel Watkins, limiting the Magnolia Beverage Masters import to just four points in the final frame.

It was the first back-to-back wins for the Dragons in this season-ending conference as they improved to 2-4.

Welcoat’s other import Corey Santee also had a big ballgame with 23 points, while rookie Joe Devance contributed 15 points.

The win came exactly 10 days after the team owned by Raymund Yu an Terry Que had its first win this conference when it downed Purefoods TJ Hotdogs, 110-103, last April 20.

Since entering the league last season, this is only the second time Welcoat has won back-to-back ballgames, the first one happening right before it went on that 15-game losing streak. The Dragons defeated Talk ‘N Text in OT 126-125 in the previous Phil1ppine Cup last Nov. 11 before defeating curiously also Magnolia Beverage Masters 95-93 five days later.

As for Magnolia Beverage Masters, the setback ended a three-game winning run, which leveled its win-loss card to 3-3.

“Akala ko it’s going to be a long while for us to win again because of the long break,” Welcoat’s interim coach Caloy Garcia said.

“We’re sluggish at practice. But we showed what character we have in this ballgame. Every ballgame we play is always like a championship for us,” Garcia said. “I’m proud of my players, everyone know their roles.”

With the score tied at 86 with seven minutes to play, Gainous, who replaced the ineffective Jason Keep, starred in a 9-0 run by nailing two consecutive jumpers and a booming triple that gave Welcoat a 95-86 lead with 2:50 left.

“He’s (Gainous) been playing good the last two, three ballgames,” Garcia said.

The 6-foot-10 Gainous, who, like Santee, attended Texas Christian University (TCU), said that with the way things are going for the Dragons, he’s confident that they can make it all the way to the playoffs.

“I think we can go pretty far. Yes, as far as the championship. We can do that, but we have to work more on defense and limit our turnovers,” Gainous said.

The Dragons also got double figures from sophomore center Jay-Arr Reyes (13 points) and rookie Guard Ryan Arana (12 points).

Welcoat actually dictated the first half when it outscored the Magnolia Beverage Masters, 21-12, in the second period, limiting its opponent to 4-of-14 field goals or 28.6 percent and forced Magnolia Beverage Masters to commit 10 turnovers, which it translated to 10 points.

Devance’s three-pointer sparked a 17-6 run, giving his team an 11-point lead, 48-37.

However, Magnolia Beverage Masters, which played without superstar forward Danny Seigle (foot injury), closed the gap at 48-41 halftime.

The Magnolia Beverage Masters finally regained the lead on a three-pointer by veteran guard Lordy Tugade, 65-62, with 3:54 left in the third period.

Tugade finished with 24 points, 18 of them in that third period, while Dondon Hontiveros, who became the 12th member of the 500 3-point club with his two triples in the first quarter, had 15. Hontiveros went 3-for-6 from the three-point territory. (WG)

The scores:

Welcoat Dragons 108 – Gainous 32, Santee 23, De Vance 15, Reyes 13, Arana 12, Dulay 5, Ibanes 3, Wainwright 3, Isip 2, Salangsang 0.

Magnolia Beverage Masters 101 – Watkins 26, Tugade 24, Hontiveros 15, Pingris 11, Ildefonso 10, Cortez 9, Calaguio 4, Pena 2, Villanueva 0, Gonzales 0, Racela 0.

Quarterscores: 27-29; 48-41; 74-76; 108-101