Magnolia rages behind Paul Lee, completes a great swing to beat NLEX

Magnolia rallied from a 22-point deficit behind his signature defense to stun NLEX 103-100 on Wednesday night in his maiden PBA Philippine Cup win at the University Foundation Sports and Cultural Center. of Angeles.

Paul Lee scored a four-point play on Tony Semerad’s sixth and final foul to make it 101-100 with 32.5 seconds left before the Road Warriors’ Kiefer Ravena missed his last two attempts as the Hotshots clinched victory after be down 70-48. In the third.

It was the franchise’s biggest comeback in exactly 15 years when the Purefoods Chunkee Giants came back from a 29-point deficit to produce an 86-84 overtime victory over Alaska Aces in the 2005 PBA Fiesta Conference eliminations. 06.

Coach Chito Victolero credited his team for climbing a notch in the fourth when his pressure across the court forced NLEX to commit 10 turnovers in the fourth, which the Hotshots converted to 12 points.

Guards Jio Jalalon, Mark Barroca and Chris Banchero, who led with 19 points, were key in the big rally at both ends, resulting in NLEX falling to 0-2 inside the bubble.

“If we don’t play our game, it’ll probably be only forty,” Victolero said. “It was a total team effort and we will learn from this experience.”

Ravena, who struggled in the Road Warriors’ 102-92 loss to Barangay Ginebra San Miguel last Sunday, rallied with 27 points, including a shot that gave NLEX a 99-97 lead with 1:17 left. play in the room.

But Lee used a screen before hitting a three plus foul on Semerad to restore Magnolia’s lead after taking the extra free throw.

NLEX tried to regain the advantage, but Ravenna’s jump shot from the foul line was heard. Ravena fouled Barroca, who made both free throws for a 103-100 lead, 15.6 left.

Ravena tried to force extra time with a three, but his shot failed to connect when time expired.

The Road Warriors lost key players when necessary for various reasons with Kevin Alas (17 points) and JR Quinahan (16 points) fouling and Jericho Cruz (17 points) hurting his ankle in the fourth.