MANILA – Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots leaned on timely four-pointers by Paul Lee to take down NorthPort Batang Pier, 106-97, in the PBA Philippine Cup on Saturday night at the Candon City Arena in Candon, Ilocos Sur.
Down 83-85 after a triple by Batang Pier’s Joshua Munzon, Lee unloaded two four-pointers and a layup followed by two-pointers form Andy Mark Barroca and Calvin Abueva to give the Hotshots a 97-88 lead.
The Batang Pier still tried to catch up behind baskets from Munzon and Sidney Onwubere, but the Hotshots got consecutive three-pointers from Aris Dionisio to stretch the lead to double-digits at 106-93.
Lee finished with 16 points, with 10 coming in the fourth quarter, to go with six assists and five rebounds as the Hotshots returned to their winning ways for a league-leading 7-1 win-loss slate.
Zavier Lucero top-scored for the Hotshots with 20 points, eight rebounds, three steals, two assists, and two blocks, Barroca and Peter Alfaro added 15 and 13, respectively, while Dionsio and Jerom Lastimosa contributed 10 apiece.
William Navarro paced the Batang Pier with a double-double of 27 points and 13 rebounds, Onwubere added 19 markers, while Jiovani Jalalon and Munzon tallied 16 and 14, respectively. They fell to a 1-6 win-loss slate.
Over at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City, Japeth Aguilar converted a go-ahead basket with a second remaining as Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings escaped with a 101-99 victory over Blackwater Bossing.
With the score tied at 99-all after a three-pointer by Bossing’s Troy Mallillin, Aguilar found himself wide open for a jump shot from a pass by Earl Scottie Thompson to secure the tight win.
Aguilar finished with a team-high of 22 points to go with six rebounds and two assists to be named Player of the Game as the Gin Kings notched their third straight win for a 5-2 win-loss slate. The Bossing dropped to a 1-6 record.
“Japeth has made so many big shots in his career and he made another one just like any all day. It was a great pass by Scottie to find him wide open,” Gin Kings head coach Tim Cone said./PN
BOX SCORE:
MAGNOLIA 106 – Lucero 20, Lee 16, Barroca 15, Alfaro 13, Lastimosa 10, Dionisio 10, Abueva 8, Sangalang 7, Dela Rosa 5, Eriobu 2, Mendoza 0, Escoto 0, Ahanmisi 0.
NORTHPORT 97 – Navarro 27, Onwubere 19, Jalalon 16, Munzon 14, Kwekuteye 9, Nelle 7, Yu 3, Flores 2, Cuntapay 0, Bulanadi 0.
Quarterscores: 32-27, 51-53, 74-75, 106-97.
