PAUL Lee refused to let Magnolia be sidetracked by an upstart.
For the second straight game, Lee came up with a big fourth quarter explosion anew as the Hotshots scored an 81-70 victory over Rain or Shine yesterday as the Philippine Cup quarterfinals got going at the Don Honorio Ventura State University Gym in Bacolor, Pampanga.
Lee scattered 14 of his game-high 20 points in the payoff canto, not as big as the 18 of his 32 in a 100-90 win over San Miguel Beer last week, but still good enough for Magnolia to keep its distance over the Elasto Painters, who were equally eager to gain the headstart in the best-of-three series.
“Kilala naman natin si Paul. Anytime he can score 12, 15 points in any given stretch,” said Magnolia coach Chito Victolero of his prized combo guard, who missed his first six shots but found his touch when it mattered most.
“Pag nag-struggle si Paul alam ko na makakabalik at makakabalik iyan dahil grabe kompiyansa ng bata,” added Victolero.
Rookie Santi Santillan also lit it up in the fourth period by scoring 13 of his 17 points, keeping Rain or Shine within striking distance.
But Lee won’t be denied and had more ample help, showcased when Calvin Abueva found Rome dela Rosa underneath for a nifty reverse that made it an unassailable 81-70 count, only 17 ticks to go.
“He attracts the defense and na-o-open up iba,” Victolero said of Lee. “Hindi lang points kino-contribute ni Paul. Overall ‘yung kanyang presence. Hopefully, magtuloy-tuloy.”
“Pag di ka nagtrabaho di mo makukuha game na ito,” said Ian Sangalang, who added 19 points and 13 boards, boosting Magnolia to a 66-43 domination in the rebounding department.
Dela Rosa and Jio Jalalon added 10 points apiece, also helping complement a Hotshots defense that was on full display in the third period.
After taking a 42-37 lead at the halftime break Rain or Shine went eerily cold, making only two of 16 field goal attempts while committing three turnovers.
It was Sangalang who took the lead in that pivotal period, scoring eight of his points as the Hotshots got off one mini-run after another that netted it as much as a 60-47 lead before settling for a 60-50 spread going into the last 12 minutes of play.
Santillan also hauled down 12 rebounds with Rey Nambatac finishing with 16 points but only three in the second half. Javee Mocon was the lone other E-Painter in double digits with 11.
Much like in their lone eliminations meeting, which Rain or Shine won 75-72, the game was relatively close with 13 lead changes and five deadlocks.
Twelve of those lead changes occurred in the first half alone, with Beau Belga’s layup and Nambatac’s three-point play lifting Rain or Shine out of the game’s fourth standoff at 37-all and into a five-point lead at the half.
