Hotshots off to winning start

MANILA, Philippines — The Hotshots, who went 11-0 in the “filler meet” during the long off-season, quickly picked up a W in the actual battle via a 110-102 dispatching of undermanned TNT last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Tyler Bey made his Philippine debut with an outstanding 31-point, 20-rebound statline, capping his heroics with six clutch points including back-to-back dunks that extinguished TNT’s spirited rally from 19 down.

Mark Barroca and Paul Lee fired 19 and 17, respectively, to complement Bey.

It was Barroca who was instrumental in leading Magnolia to a 26-16 head start in the first period.

With Lee, Barroca and Bey at the forefront and Ian Sangalang (nine), Rome dela Rosa (eight) and James Laput (eight) hitting big shots, the Hotshots kept the Tropang Giga on the backfoot the rest of the way.

Interim import Quincy Miller and Gilas Pilipinas stalwart Calvin Oftana formed the 1-2 punch for TNT, which put up a gallant stand despite missing an array of key players.

Miller, who got clearance from former team Converge at the 11th hour to suit up for TNT in lieu of the gastroenteritis-hit Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, shot 37 plus 14 boards. Oftana banged in 28 spiked by seven triples, his outside bombing fueling their late fightback.

The Tropang Giga took the opening loss while Hollis-Jefferson and RR Pogoy (medical leave) were on the bench and ace gunner Mikey Williams still in the US over contract issues.

Bey, who suffered a busted upper lip in the fourth, surely made his mark on first appearance with his numbers reminiscent of former Hotshot Nick Rakocevic’s 45-point, 25-rebound debut last season.

“This guy was banged up the whole game but he kept playing hard,” said Magnolia coach Chito Victolero of their import.