Let me tell you something I've learned through years of watching elite athletes - what you put on your plate can make or break your performance. I've seen players who looked unstoppable in practice completely fade during games, and more often than not, it came down to their nutrition choices. Take that Magnolia team performance where they scored 118 points - that doesn't happen by accident. When you have players like Sangalang dropping 20 points, Barroca adding 18, and three others scoring 17 each, you're looking at athletes who clearly understand the connection between fuel and performance.

I remember talking to a professional athlete who told me his game-day nutrition strategy was basically a large pizza and energy drinks. He wondered why he'd crash in the fourth quarter. The science is clear - proper nutrition provides the building blocks for sustained energy, muscle recovery, and mental sharpness. When I analyze performances like that Magnolia game where they had six players scoring in double digits, I see evidence of athletes who've mastered their nutritional timing. They're not just eating - they're strategically fueling their bodies for optimal output.

Carbohydrates have gotten such a bad reputation lately, but let me be clear - they're your body's preferred energy source during high-intensity activities. I typically recommend athletes consume about 3-5 grams of carbohydrates per pound of body weight daily during training periods. That Magnolia performance with 118 total points demonstrates what happens when athletes properly fuel their glycogen stores. Think about it - when you have players like Laput still contributing 10 points and Dela Rosa adding 8, that's endurance and sustained energy at work.

Protein is where many athletes drop the ball. I've seen countless players focus only on their post-workout shake while neglecting their overall daily intake. Your muscles need consistent protein throughout the day - not just one massive dose after training. Based on my experience working with competitive athletes, I'd estimate most need around 0.7 to 0.9 grams of protein per pound of body weight. The balanced scoring in that Magnolia game - from Sangalang's 20 to Abueva's 6 - reflects the kind of team-wide stamina that comes from proper protein timing and distribution.

Hydration is another area where I see athletes constantly underestimating their needs. Even mild dehydration can reduce performance by up to 15-20 percent, and I've witnessed this firsthand during training sessions. When you're looking at stat lines like Lucero and Lee both putting up 17 points while maintaining their defensive intensity, that's the mark of athletes who understand that hydration isn't just about water - it's about electrolyte balance and consistent fluid intake throughout the day, not just during the game.

What most people don't realize is that nutrition timing is as important as what you eat. I always advise athletes to think in terms of windows - the pre-game meal 3-4 hours before competition, the top-up snack 60-90 minutes before, and the critical recovery window within 45 minutes after. Looking at how players like Ahanmisi and Alfaro contributed 7 and 6 points respectively off the bench, I see athletes who likely nailed their timing, ensuring they had energy when their number was called.

The truth is, there's no one-size-fits-all approach, despite what some nutrition gurus might claim. Through trial and error with different athletes, I've found that individual responses vary significantly. Some players perform better with lighter pre-game meals, others need more substantial fuel. The diversity in that Magnolia box score - from Escoto's 5 points to Lastimosa's 4 - reminds me that each athlete needs to find what works specifically for their body and role on the team.

At the end of the day, sports nutrition comes down to consistency and personalization. It's not about finding some magical superfood but about building sustainable habits that support your training demands. When I see a team performance like that 118-point effort with contributions across the roster, I recognize the cumulative effect of daily nutritional discipline. These athletes aren't just eating right on game day - they've made performance nutrition part of their lifestyle, and the results speak for themselves in the stat sheet and, more importantly, in their ability to perform when it counts.