MANILA – Paul Lee got his shots to fall when it mattered the most as Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots prevailed over sister team San Miguel Beermen, 85-80, in the 2022 PBA Commissioner’s Cup last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Clinging to a slim 77-76 lead with under a minute left, Lee converted an outside shot to widen the Hotshots lead to 80-76. He then followed this with another trifecta from way out for an 83-76 upperhand with 54 seconds left.
The Beermen rallied to within 80-83 on back-to-back conversions by Vic Manuel and Jaymar Perez with 28 seconds remaining before Lee wrapped up the win for the Hotshots with two free throws.
Lee finished the contest with 14 points, with nine coming in the fourth quarter, to go with three rebounds and two assists as the Hotshots formalized their quarterfinals entry with its league-leading 8-1 win-loss slate.
Nicholas Rakocevic led the Hotshots with double-double 26 points and 28 rebounds to go with three steals, Ian Sangalang also had double-double 12 points and 14 rebounds as Andy Mark Barroca also finished with 12 markers.
Devon Scott tallied 19 points, 17 rebounds and five assists, while Perez, Manuel and Marcio Lassiter contributed 16 markers apiece as the Beermen slumped to 3-5 win-loss record.
In the first game, Meralco Bolts rode on the exploits of Raymond Almazan in the fourth quarter as they beat sister team TNT Tropang Giga, 97-91. Both teams now have a 4-5 win-loss slate.
Down 78-80 early in the fourth quarter, the Bolts got conversions from KJ McDaniels, Kier John Quinto and Chris Banchero to take an 83-80 lead before Almazan unloaded seven inside points for a 90-86 upperhand.
TNT trimmed it to 88-90 but a basket by Aaron Black followed by a free throw and another inside hit from Almazan widened Meralco’s advantage to 95-88 with half a minute left in the game.
Almazan finished with 21 points, with 10 coming in the fourth quarter, McDaniels chipped in double-double 26 points and 15 rebounds, Black flirted with triple-double 17 points, 11 rebounds and six assists for the Bolts.
BOX SCORE:
MAGNOLIA 85 – Rakocevic 26, Lee 14, Sangalang 12, Barroca 12, Jalalon 6, Abueva 5, Wong 4, Dela Rosa 2, Corpuz 2, Ahanmisi 2, Laput 0, Dionisio 0.
SAN MIGUEL 80 – Scott 19, Lassiter 16, Manuel 16, Perez 16, Tautuaa 6, Ross 3, Brondial 2, Herndon 2, Enciso 0, Cruz 0.
Quarterscores: 23-25, 37-37, 65-60, 85-80./PN
