MANILA – Paul Lee regained his offense as Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots scored a dominant 129-100 victory over Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in Game 4 of the PBA Governors’ Cup quarterfinals last night at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.
The former University of the East Red Warriors guard set the tone for the Hotshots with 25 points, including three four-point conversions, as they tied the best-of-five quarterfinals series at 2-2.
“Ginagawa ko lang kung ano ‘yung routine ko everyday na relax lang ako, especially ‘yung mind ko, and embrace the game and the physicality,” Lee said in a post-game interview.
Jabari Bird led the way for the Hotshots with 30 points, Jerrick Ahanmisi contributed 14 markers, while Andy Mark Barroca and Ian Sangalang had 10 each as the Hotshots send the game to a do-or-die Game 5 on Saturday night.
“It is just believing, for us to win the war, we have to grind for 48 minutes, and I think my players was so focused that they want to win the game and to have another chance on Saturday,” said Hotshots head coach Chito Victolero.
Aaron Fuller led the way for the Painters with 22 points, Jhonard Clarito added 15 markers, Beau Belga, Adrian Nocum, and Andrei Caracut tallied 11 each, and Gian Mamuyac contributed 10 markers.
Meanwhile, Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings rallied back from a double-digit deficit to eliminate the Meralco Bolts, 113-106, in Game 3 of their best-of-five quarterfinals series on Monday night.
Down by as many as 12 points in the third quarter, the Gin Kings went on a run in the fourth period to cut the deficit to 88-89 on back-to-back four-point shots by Justin Brownlee.
The Gin Kings then took control of the game with perimeter hits by Rhon Jhay Abarrientos and outside conversions from Stephen Holt and Maverick Ahanmisi to take a 105-98 advantage.
Brownlee led the Gin Kings with 23 points, Holt and Japeth Aguilar added 19 markers apiece, Abarrientos and Ahanmisi contributed 17 points each, and Earl Scottie Thompson ended up with 16 markers./PN
BOX SCORE:
MAGNOLIA 129 – Bird 30, Lee 25, Ahanmisi 14, Barroca 10, Sangalang 10, Abueva 9, Dionisio 9, Dela Rosa 9, Mendoza 8, Eriobu 5, Laput 0.
RAIN OR SHINE 100 – Fuller 22, Clarito 15, Belga 11, Nocum 11, Caracut 11, Mamuyac 10, Asistio 5, Santillan 4, Tiongson 4, Ildefonso 4, Datu 2, Lemetti 1, Norwood 0.
Quarterscores: 26-26, 62-44, 99-79, 129-100.
