The Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots halted their losing run with a 99-95 overtime win against the NLEX Road Warriors in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup on Friday night at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.
After failing to close out the game in regulation, the Hotshots surged to a 95-87 start in the extension period on a split free throw by Calvin Abueva and baskets from Jerom Lastimosa, Ricardo Ratliffe, and Zavier Lucero.
The Road Warriors responded with a triple from Michael Watkins and a five-point play from Robert Bolick to take a 95-94 lead, but the Hotshots regained the advantage at 96-95 on a layup by Andy Mark Barroca.
The Hotshots widened their lead further on a split free throw by Lastimosa and two charity shots from Lucero before Bolick missed on a four-point attempt from the halfcourt line.
Ratliffe led the Hotshots with 38 points, Lucero added 14 markers, while Lastimosa and Barroca ended with 13 and 12, respectively, as they snapped a four-game losing streak for a 2-4 win-loss slate.
“It’s a character game for us,” Hotshots head coach Chito Victolero said after the game. “We are down at this stage of the tournament; we are not out, and ‘yung situation namin is within our control, pa naman.”
“This team has experienced it before; I know the character of our players, and hopefully this is the start of our run,” he added. “I am also thankful sa naging efforts ng players ko in this game.”
Bolick finished with 28 points, nine assists, and five rebounds; Robbie Herndon added 18 markers; Watkins contributed 17 points and 23 rebounds; and Kevin Alas ended with 11 as they dropped to a 3-4 mark.
The post Magnolia overcomes NLEX in OT, snaps 4-game losing skid first appeared on Fastbreak.
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