The Magnolia Hotshots reclaimed the solo lead in the 2024 PBA Philippine Cup after a hard-fought 106-97 win over the NorthPort Batang Pier on Saturday night in Candon, Ilocos Sur. Behind a fiery performance from veteran guard Paul Lee, the Hotshots punched their ticket to the quarterfinals and bounced back from their only defeat of the tournament.
🔥 Paul Lee Lights It Up in the Fourth Quarter
Known for his clutch shooting, Paul Lee once again rose to the occasion. With the game tied at 85-all early in the fourth quarter, Lee nailed a crucial four-point shot that sparked a decisive run for Magnolia. He followed it up with another four-ball and a deep three-pointer that helped the Hotshots pull away for good.
Lee finished with an impressive all-around stat line:
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16 points
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6 assists
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5 rebounds
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Only 2 turnovers in 31 minutes of play
His fourth-quarter heroics not only gave Magnolia the edge but also solidified his role as the team’s go-to player in crunch time.
🔁 Bounce-Back Win After Rain or Shine Setback
The win was a much-needed one for Coach Chito Victolero and his team, coming on the heels of their only loss of the conference—a 105-119 defeat to the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters. With Saturday’s win, Magnolia improved to 7-1, securing the first quarterfinals berth and reclaiming the top spot in the standings.
💪 Support from Zav Lucero, Mark Barroca, and Pete Alfaro
While Paul Lee stole the spotlight late, Magnolia’s success was a true team effort:
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Zav Lucero continued to shine with 20 points and 8 rebounds, showcasing his versatility and inside-out game.
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Mark Barroca added 15 points, 7 assists, and 4 rebounds, anchoring the team’s offense and tempo.
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Pete Alfaro III chipped in 13 points, including two clutch four-pointers of his own, adding a perimeter threat off the bench.
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Jerom Lastimosa and Aris Dionisio also reached double figures with 10 points apiece, giving Magnolia six players in double digits.
This collective performance ensured that Magnolia wouldn’t fall into another trap game, even against a gritty and determined NorthPort squad.
🧱 NorthPort’s Valiant Effort Falls Short
Despite the loss, NorthPort Batang Pier showed incredible fight, especially given their depleted lineup. The team actually controlled much of the second and third quarters, with key contributions from multiple players.
Top Performers for NorthPort:
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Wil Navarro had a monster game with 27 points and 13 rebounds, recording a rare double-double while leading the offensive charge.
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Sidney Onwubere scored 19 points, attacking the paint and hitting key mid-range shots.
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Jio Jalalon (16 points) and Josh Munzon (14 points) provided secondary scoring support, helping NorthPort keep the game competitive.
NorthPort even outscored Magnolia 26-19 in the second period, taking a 53-51 halftime lead. Coach Bonnie Tan managed to extract maximum effort from his squad, but their manpower shortage eventually became too much to overcome in the final stretch.
📊 Game Flow and Turning Points
| Quarter | Score |
|---|---|
| Q1 | Magnolia 32 – NorthPort 27 |
| Q2 | Magnolia 51 – NorthPort 53 |
| Q3 | Magnolia 76 – NorthPort 75 |
| Q4 | Magnolia 106 – NorthPort 97 |
The pivotal moment came in the fourth quarter, when Paul Lee’s back-to-back four-pointers flipped the game on its head. From a tied score at 85, Magnolia went on a run that NorthPort simply couldn’t match, especially with limited rotation depth.
🎯 Key Stats Summary
| Player | Points | Rebounds | Assists | Notable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paul Lee (MAG) | 16 | 5 | 6 | 2 clutch 4-pointers |
| Zav Lucero (MAG) | 20 | 8 | — | Top scorer for Magnolia |
| Mark Barroca (MAG) | 15 | 4 | 7 | Steady floor general |
| Wil Navarro (NPT) | 27 | 13 | — | Game-high scorer |
| Sidney Onwubere (NPT) | 19 | — | — | Efficient from midrange |
🏀 What’s Next for Both Teams?
For Magnolia:
With a quarterfinals berth in hand and momentum back on their side, Magnolia will look to maintain their top seed and improve their chemistry further. Expect Coach Victolero to continue fine-tuning rotations as they prepare for tougher playoff battles.
For NorthPort:
At 1-6, the Batang Pier’s hopes for postseason contention are slim, but their spirited performance suggests they won’t go down without a fight. The return of key players and continued development of young talents like Wil Navarro could still make them spoilers in the coming games.
This was a classic PBA road game filled with drama, lead changes, and individual brilliance. Paul Lee’s clutch gene, backed by a balanced Magnolia offense, proved too much for an undermanned yet resilient NorthPort squad.
As the PBA Philippine Cup heads into its final stretch, the playoff picture is starting to take shape, and Magnolia has firmly positioned itself as a championship contender.
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