Paul Lee submitted his best game of the series to date as Magnolia clobbered Rain or Shine, 129-100, to send their PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup quarterfinal battle to a do-or-die, Tuesday evening at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The star gunner finished with 25 points on a 3-of-4 clip from the four-point area and eight assists as he bounced back from a lowly showing the last time out that saw him score just six points on nine shots in the 111-106 overtime loss.
He sank two of his quadruples in the second chapter, joining hands with Jerrick Ahanmisi to steer the Hotshots to a 36-point eruption to build a 62-44 advantage entering the halftime intermission, taking control of the game for good.
“I just stayed locked in,” Lee said. “Nag-focus lang ako every possession. I’m happy na lahat kami extra focused … ‘Di na naman inisip ‘yung last game.”
Jabari Bird led Magnolia with 30 points, while Ahanmisi supplied 14 as he broke a tie with Blackwater’s George King (17) for most fours in the league with 19.
Mark Barroca and Ian Sangalang added 10 apiece as Magnolia moved on from that controversial Game 3 last Sunday that put them on the brink of elimination.
So emotional was that encounter in Antipolo, which witnessed Coach Chito Victolero’s wards fall as the breaks of the game didn’t go their way.
“I talked to the players to forget about everything. We lost control in that game. We agreed that after 12 midnight, all the frustrations na nangyari sa atin, kalimutan na natin,” said the champion bench tactician.
By showing character, the series now heads into a deciding Game 5 set on Saturday night at 7:30 — once again at the Ynares Center.
Aaron Fuller, on the other hand, led the Elasto Painters with 22 points and 10 rebounds in the loss that saw the team fail to sustain its 11-2 start.
Jhonard Clarito had 15 points. The trio of Beau Belga, Adrian Nocum, and Andrei Caracut made 11 each, while Gian Mamuyac added 10.
The Scores:
Magnolia 129 – Bird 30, Lee 25, Ahanmisi 14, Barroca 10, Sangalang 10, Abueva 9, Dionisio 9, Dela Rosa 9, Mendoza 8, Eriobu 5, Laput 0.
Rain or Shine 100 – Fuller 22, Clarito 15, Belga 11, Nocum 11, Caracut 11, Mamuyac 10, Asistio 5, Santillan 4, Tiongson 4, Ildefonso 4, Datu 2, Lemetti 1, Norwood 0.
Quarterscores: 26-26, 62-44, 99-79, 129-100.
