MAGNOLIA refused to buckle when the chips were down and got rewarded with a 112-109 victory over NLEX yesterday to remain unbeaten in the PBA Governors Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Ian Sangalang, Mark Barroca and Aris Dionisio presided over the Hotshots’ fine fourth quarter start before Mike Harris took over in the crunch with timely baskets that kept the Road Warriors at bay.
With the win, its fifth straight, Magnolia reclaimed its place as solo leader although Meralco could catch up, depending on the Bolts’ match against NorthPort today.
Harris exploded for a team-high 31 points, 10 of them in the fourth period, capped by a reverse layup against NLEX counterpart KJ McDaniels that gave Magnolia a 112-109 lead, only 12 seconds to go.
The Road Warriors tried to go for the equalizer, but McDaniels and Don Trollano missed their respective three-point tries, enabling the Hotshots to complete their fightback from as much as a 71-85 third quarter deficit.
Magnolia coach Chito Victolero gave much of the credit to his relievers, who sparked their uprising from a 79-88 count at the start of the final frame.
“We had a bad start but our second group saved us today. They gave us the energy,” said Victolero.
That sentiment was echoed by Paul Lee, who finished with 21 points, eight more than his pre-game average. “Give credit sa second group. Gumawa sila ng paraan para makabalik kami,” he said.
The trio of Sangalang, Barroca and Dionisio led a 13-4 surge to start the fourth that enabled Magnolia to draw level at 92 and set up the back-and-forth finish.
NLEX had a chance to overcome a 109-110 deficit and seize back the lead after Lee was called for an offensive foul and Matt Nieto was fouled by Jio Jalalon during a three-point try, still 32.4 seconds remaining.
But Nieto, playing in only his second PBA game, muffed all his three charity tries and Harris eluded McDaniels with a nifty drive that proved to be the dagger.
The loss was NLEX’s third straight after a 4-0 start, notwithstanding McDaniels’ gamehighs of 35 points, 13 rebounds and six blocked shots.
