Paul Lee's and-1 seals Magnolia's comeback over NLEX

Paul Lee won it for the Hotshots. PBA Images

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--Paul Lee delivered the eventual winning play as Magnolia completed a comeback from 22 points down to beat NLEX, 103-100, in their PBA match-up at the Angeles University Foundation Sports and Cultural Center on Wednesday night.

Lee scored on a go-ahead four-point play with 32 seconds left as the Hotshots withstood one last push from the Road Warriors led by Kiefer Ravena.

Down 48-70 midway through the third quarter, Magnolia slowly chipped the lead until it was just at five points, 75-70, with 58 seconds left in the period.

The team would complete the comeback in the fourth quarter and led by as much as seven, 93-86, with 5:05 to play.

Ravena then came to work, scoring all but five of NLEX's points in a 14-4 run that gave the team the lead back, 100-97, with 40 seconds to play.

Lee, however, got a hand-off pass from Jio Jalalon and buried a booming trey while fishing Anthony Semerad's sixth foul.

Lee drained the ensuing free throw to put the Hotshots ahead, 101-100.

Ravena had a chance to reclaim the lead for the Road Warriors, but his turnaround jumper rattled out of the rim and Mark Barroca made two more charities for the eventual final outcome.

Ravena had one more try to force overtime, but his three-pointer rimmed out again before time expired.

Lee's outside shooting made up for his rough night inside the arc as he finished with 18 points, two rebounds, one assist, and two steals for Magnolia, which moved up to 1-1.

Jalalon and Chris Banchero top-scored for the team with 19 points each off the bench.

Ravena, following a lethargic season opener against Ginebra on Sunday night, was relegated to the bench, but he exploded for 27 points, three rebounds, two assists, and one steal to lead NLEX, which slipped to 0-2.

The scores:

Magnolia 103 --Bancher 19, Jalalon 19, Lee 18, Barroca 13, Sangalang 9, Corpuz 9, Dionisio 8, Dela Rosa 4, Reavis 4, Melton 0, Calisaan 0

NLEX 100 -- Ravena 27, Alas 18, Cruz 17, Quinahan 16, Porter 5, Semerad 5, Ayonayon 5, Soyud 4, Ighalo 3, Miranda 0, Galanza 0, Taulava 0, Varilla 0

Quarterscores: 23-23, 39-50, 70-78, 103-100

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