They're back.
Written off after a poor start in the 2020 PBA Philippine Cup the Magnolia Hotshots are back in contention after posting their fourth consecutive win.
The Hotshots again leaned on the late-game heroics of Paul Lee to beat the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, 70-62, yesterday, November 7, 2020 at the Angeles University Foundation Sports Arena & Cultural Center Powered by Smart 5G.
The Hotshots got into their groove early, put up a big lead early then relied on Lee to come through in the clutch to preserve the wire-to-wire victory.
Lee finished with 31 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists to win Player of the Game honors to lead the Magnolia comeback into playoff contention.
“Iyon talaga kami. Ewan ko kung ano nangyayari. Pero pag back against the wall, we do better. Pero siguro we just stick to our system. Naniniwala kami sa system ni coach Chito (Victolero) kaya we come out with the win,” said Lee in the post-game interview.
With the victory the Hotshots (5 wins, 4 losses) climbed into a tie at sixth place with the San Miguel Beermen (5-4).
Leading the standings are Barangay Ginebra (7-2), TNT Tropang Giga (6-3), Phoenix Super LPG (6-3), Meralco Bolts (5-3) and Alaska Aces (6-4).
The other teams include Rain or Shine (4-4), NLEX Road Warriors (4-5), Blackwater Elite (2-6), NorthPort (1-7) and Terrafirma Dyip (1-7).
Rey Nambatac split his charities to cut the Magnolia lead to 4, 66-62, with less than 2 minutes left to play.
Lee then took charge. He isolated on the right side then drilled a fadeaway jumper to hike the Magnolia lead to 6, 68-62, with a minute left to play. Rain or Shine could not score at the other end.
Lee then sealed the deal, isolating on the same side and drilling a similar fadeaway jumpshot to push Magnolia beyond recall, 70-62.
The Hotshots clamped down on defense and got a big lift on offense from Lee who unloaded 19 first-half points to tow Magnolia to a fat 18-point, 39-21, halftime lead.
The Elasto Painters came storming back in the third. Beau Belga drilled a short jumper from the elbow to cap a 21-10 Rain or Shine run which trimmed an 18-point, 23-41, deficit to just 7, 44-51, with two minutes left in the quarter.
Magnolia barely beat back the Rain or Shine challenge in the third with Marc Barroca converting a Hail Mary trey at the buzzer to hike the Magnolia advantage to 10 points, 56-46, going into the payoff fourth.
Jewel Ponferada faked a shot but instead put the ball on the floor and drove in to score and convert the bonus free throw to cut the Magnolia lead to just 5 points, 62-57.
In another play Ponferada drew the defense to himself then zipped a pass inside to Gabe Norwood who scored from underneath the goal to cut the Magnolia lead to 3, 62-59, with 3:41 in the game.
With three minutes left to play Ponferada drove inside and forced Magnolia’s Jackson Corpuz to commit his 6th and last foul. Ponferada then made both free throws to cut the Magnolia lead to just a point, 62-61, with 3:28 to play.
Ian Sangalang and Jio Jalalon each scored a field goal to hike the Magnolia lead back to 5, 66-61.
Scores:
Magnolia Hotshots Pambansang Manok 70 – Paul Lee 31, Marc Barroca 8, Jio Jalalon 7, Rome Dela Rosa 4, Rafi Reavis 4, Chris Banchero 2, Jackson Corpuz 0, Aris Dionisio 0, Justin Melton 0, Michael Calisaan 0.
Rain or Shine Elasto Painters 70 – Kris Rosales 14, Jewel Ponferada 13, Rey Nambatac 11, Beau Belga 5, Adrian Wong 5, Gabe Norwood 4, Javee Mocon 3, Sydney Onwubere 3, James Yap 2, Norbert Torres 2, Mark Borboran 0, Ryan Araña 0, Vince Tolentino 0.
Quarter Scores: 19-16, 39-21, 56-46, 70-62.