PAUL Lee had another display of superb shooting from afar, firing four-balls to fuel Magnolia's breakaway in the fourth quarter en route to a 106-97 win over NorthPort in a PBA Philippine Cup road showdown in Candon, Ilocus Sur on Saturday.
Lee fired a four-pointer to break an 85-all deadlock then later drilled in another four-ball plus a trey as the Hotshots sustained their pullaway on the way to a bounceback win from a loss the last time out.
And with that, coach Chito Victolero's troops secured the first berth in the quarterfinals while getting themselves back in the solo lead in the team standings at 7-1.
Lee finished with 16 points on top of six assists and five rebounds against two errors in a brilliant effort in 31 minutes of action.
Zav Lucero (with 20 points and eight rebounds), Mark Barroca (with 15 markers, seven dish-offs and four boards) and Pete Alfaro III (13 markers with two four-balls) had their own solid showings, helping Magnolia back on winning track after suffering their lone defeat so far at the hands of the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters (105-119).
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Jerom Lastimosa and Aris Dionisio were two other Hotshots to finish in double figures with 10 points apiece as Magnolia warded off the tough stand of the depleted but fierce-fighting NorthPort side, handing them a sixth loss against a lone win.
Wil Navarro led the NorthPort resistance as he poured in game-high 27 points that went with 13 rebounds in a rare double-double.
Sidney Onwubere added 19 points, Jio Jalalon contributed 16 while Josh Munzon put in 14 for the Batang Pier who even took command for most of the second and third periods
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Navarro, Jalalon and Onwubere delivered the goods as the Road Warriors pounded the Hotshots, 26-19, in the second period and grabbed a 53-51 edge at halftime.
Manpower shortage, however, proved too tough to bear for the troops of coach Bonnie Tan.
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They were a spent force as they were beaten by the Hotshots in the homestretch.(SB)
The scores:
Magnolia 106 - Lucero 20, Lee 16, Barroca 15, Alfaro 13, Lastimosa 10, Dionisio 10, Abueva 8, Sangalang 7, Dela Rosa 5, Eriobu 2, Mendoza 0, Escoto 0, Ahanmisi 0.
NorthPort 97 - Navarro 27, Onwubere 19, Jalalon 16, Munzon 14, Kwekuteye 9, Nelle 7, Yu 3, Flores 2, Bulanadi 0, Taha 0, Cuntapay 0.
Quarterscores: 32-27, 51-53, 106-97
