ITS long streak versus Terrafirma in danger of being snapped, Magnolia dug deep and found a way to salvage a W in the end.
Big baskets by Paul Lee and Shabazz Muhammad lifted the Hotshots past the injury-crippled but fierce-fighting Dyip, 99-98, and kept them in solo third place in the PBA Governors Cup Group A play.
The two teams traded big plays for big plays, and big shots for big shots, but the Hotshots had the final say as Muhammad delivered the winning basket off Andreas Cahilig with 7.8 ticks to go.
With a good defense in the closing seconds, coach Chito Victolero's troops completed the squeaker and preserved a perfect record versus the Columbian Autocorp. franchise dating back to 2016.
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Despite playing with limited minutes due to early fouls, Muhammad scored a team-high 20 points, including the dagger basket keeping the Dyip winless in seven starts in Season 49.
The Hotshots improved to 4-3, staying right behind the pacesetting TNT Tropang Giga (6-1) and the second-running Meralco Bolts (5-2).
Magnolia bounced back from its sorry loss to Meralco in their out-of-town tussle in Panabo on Saturday where the Hotshots were forced to play all-Filipino while still awaiting the FIBA clearance for Muhammad.
But on the limited time he played due to fouls, Muhammad squeezed the best he could and helped the team through to a crucial victory.
A crucial help was a four-point bomb Lee uncorked to shove Magnolia ahead, 97-95, with time down to 21.6 seconds.
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Terrafirma rookie Paolo Hernandez answered with a booming trey but the Hotshots wouldn't give up, going to their new import to slip by the pesky Dyip.
Coach Johnedel Cardel's crew put up a big fight even with Christian Standhardinger confined on the bench due to an injury.(SB)
The Scores :
MAGNOLIA 99 - Muhammad 20, Lucero 17, Abueva 15, Ahanmisi 9, Lee 9, Sangalang 8, Dionisio 8, Barroca 7, Mendoza 3, Eriobu 2, Reavis 1, Laput 0, Alfaro 0, Balanza 0.
TERRAFIRMA 98 - Hester 39, Ferrer 18, Pringle 17, Hernandez 7, Olivario 6, Ramos 5, Cahilig 3, Sangalang 3, Carino 0, Hanapi 0.
QUARTERS: 17-20, 48-44, 69-71, 99-98
