MAGNOLIA Chicken Timplados rode on import Nicholas Rakocevic’s monster performance to roll back Terrafirma Dyip, 100-92, for its first victory in the 2022 PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

Rakocevic posted a double-double with 45 points and 25 rebounds in 44 minutes of action for the Hotshots of coach Chito Victolero.

Jio Jalalon added 12 points, seven assists and six rebounds while Ian Sangalang contributed 10 points and five rebounds for the Hotshots.

Victolero was clearly impressed.

“He plays both ends of the floor. I mean he contributes to our defensive scheme, he contributes on our offense, very aggressive,” said Victolero of the 24-year-old Serbian, who last played in China.

Rakocevic’s counterpart, Lester Prosper, also had a solid, all-around game for Terrafirma.

Prosper finished with41 points and 19 rebounds in 45 minutes of action for th Dyip, who dropped to 0-2.

Juami Tiongson contributed with 19 points, 16 of them coming in the second half.

Overall, Magnolia shot 39-of-83 from the floor or 46 percent compared to Terrafirma’s 31-of-83 shooting or 37 percent.

It was Terrafirma’s second loss in as many games in the tournament that extended the franchise’s worst losing streak to 18 dating back to last season.

Later, import Steve Taylor Jr. scored 20 points on 8-of-12 shooting as Rain or Shine outplayed Barangay Ginebra, 93-71.

Santi Santillan added 15 points and Mike Nieto contributed 10 points for the E-Painters of coach Yeng Guiao.

Justine Brownlee topscored for Ginebra with 20 markers.

The scores:

First game

Magnolia (100)– Rakocevic 45, Jalalon 12, Sangalang 10, Lee 9, Corpuz 9, Barroca 8, Wong 2, Dionisio 2, Dela Rosa 1, Ahanmisi 0, Mendoza 0.
TerraFirma (92) –Prosper 41, Tiongson 19, Munzon 8, Cabagnot 6, Cahilig 4, Gomez de Liano 4, Ramos 4, Camson 3, Gabayni 3, Alolino 0, Calvo 0, Mina 0, Balagasay 0.
Quarterscores: 29-26, 59-54, 80-71, 100-92.

Second game

Rain or Shine (93) – Taylor Jr. 21, Santillan 15, Nieto 10, Asistio 9, Caracut 9, Torres 8, Belga 5, Nambatac 5, Ponferrada 4, Ildefonso 3, Norwood 2, Borboran 2, Ponferrada 1, Guinto 0, Clarito 0.
Barangay Ginebra (71) – Brownlee 20, Malonzo 14, Pinto 9, Standhardinger 9, Aguilar 8, Pringle 8, Tenorio 2, Thompson 1, Dillinger 0, Pessumal 0, Mariano 0.
Quarterscores: 25-23, 55-28, 72-49, 93-71.

Games Friday:

(Araneta Coliseum)
3 p.m. — NLEX vs. Blackwater
5:45 p.m. — NorthPort vs. Meralco