Paul Lee finally found his stride for the Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots as they live to fight another day against the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in the quarterfinals of the PBA Season 49 Governors' Cup.
Even with their backs against the wall, Paul Lee and the Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots would simply not yield.
Lee came alive with 25 points and the Hotshots rode a strong second quarter showing to blast the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, 129-100, forcing a do-or-die Game 5 in their PBA Governors’ Cup quarterfinal series.
After a combined 10-point outing in his last two games, Lee picked no better time to haunt his former team with his best performance yet in this playoff series. He went off in a second half-rampage where he scored 15 markers alone in the third frame on top of three four-pointers.
It was a much needed win for Magnolia after dropping Game 3 in an overtime thriller in Antipolo City last Sunday, September 29.
[ALSO READ: Aaron Fuller brushes off eye injury, helps hand Rain or Shine 2-1 lead over Magnolia in OT]
After a 26-all opening salvo, the Hotshots outscored the Elasto Painters, 36-18, behind Jabari Bird and Lee's combined 25-point output for a 62-44 halftime advantage.
Magnolia continued their assault in the third quarter, with Lee firing 15 points alone and Aris Dionisio giving Magnolia their biggest lead at 91-66 after drilling a corner triple with 2:27 ticks left in the third frame.
It was all the Hotshots the rest of the way en route to a commanding victory.
The scores-
Magnolia 129 – Bird 30, Lee 25, Ahanmisi 14, Barroca 10, Sangalang 10, Abueva 9, Dela Rosa 9, Dionisio 9, Mendoza 8, Eriobu 5, Laput 0
Rain or Shine 100 – Fuller 22, Clarito 15, Nocum 11, Belga 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.