KaTropa, Hotshots escape foes via late scoring

Jio Jalalon of Magnolia Hotshots lays the ball up to the net from a distance against the defense of San Miguel Beermen. Hotshots won 109-108. PBA

MANILA – Marqus Blakely scored a game-winner as TNT KaTropa rallied back from 23 points down to beat NorthPort Batang Pier 104-102 in the 2018 PBA Governors’ Cup on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

With both teams knotted at 102 apiece, Blakely converted on a marginal basket with six seconds left in the match for their second straight win under head coach Bong Ravena.

Blakely finished the match with double-double 23 points and 11 rebounds for the KaTropa to notch its third straight victory in the conference and move up to a 4-3 win-loss slate.

In the second game, Paul Lee converted a go-ahead basket as Magnolia Hotshots scored a come-from-behind 109-108 win over San Miguel Beermen.

TNT’s Terrence Romeo frustrated his former squad NorthPort with 25 points, including six triples, while Jeth Troy Rosario, Roger Pogoy and Jericho Cruz combined for 33 points.

Trailing 37-60 at one point in the match and down 16 markers entering the final 12 minutes, the KaTropa went on a huge run behind Romeo and Blakely to tie the count at 93-all.

The KaTropa surged to a 102-98 lead after an inside hit by Blakely. The Batang Pier made their last run to tie the scores 102-all before conceding a last-second layup to Blakely.

Rashad Wood finished the match with double-double 19 points and 11 rebounds while Stanley Pringle had 18 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists for the Batang Pier (0-6).

In the succeeding game, the Hotshots were facing a 108-104 deficit with under a minute left when they rallied to within 107-108 on a Justin Melton triple. After a Beermen miss, Lee made a baseline jumper with just 33 ticks left for the Hotshots to surge.

The Beermen had several opportunities to steal the win but the defense of the Hotshots prevented them from making any decent attempt.

Lee led the Hotshots (4-1) with 28 points while Romeo Travis and Ian Sangalang had 18 and 16 points, respectively. Kevin Murphy debuted with 37 points and 17 rebounds for the Beermen (2-3)./PN

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