MAGNOLIA Ang Pambansang Manok rode Paul Lee's hot hands and a couple of welcome breaks in repeating over Meralco 92-78 Wednesday to take a commanding lead in their PBA Philippine Cup semifinals duel at the Don Honorio Ventura State University Gym in Bacolor, Pampanga.
Lee sizzled for a game-high 28 points, anchored on five triples, and got plenty of help from his teammates as the Hotshots followed up their 88-79 win in the best-of-seven series opener last Sunday.
Now with a 2-0 lead, Magnolia moved closer to a return to the conference finals, a place it has been to in 2018 and 2019. But Lee would rather have his team train its sights mainly on preparing for the next game.
"Ayaw naming i-claim muna. Kumbaga, one game at a time muna kami," said Lee, who made half of his 18 shots and added two rebounds and three assists in just under 34 minutes of action.
"Siguro, focus muna kami sa tomorrow's practice kasi iyon 'yung key," added the comboa guard. "Kumbaga, 'yung preparation namin, 'yung ensayo namin sobrang vital going to the game."
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Ian Sangalang contributed 16 points and 10 rebounds, while Calvin Abueva had his own double-double with 11 markers and 11 boards and Magnolia's job got easier when Meralco bigs Raymond Almazan and Cliff Hodge made early exits in the game.
Almazan tweaked his left ankle after stepping on Sangalang's foot following a rebound battle. He limped out with still 8:10 left in the third period and did not return.
Hodge followed some seven minutes later after getting slapped with an F1. He had to be ejected since he already got a technical foul earlier.
Even with the two frontliners, Meralco was already badly losing the battle of the boards and Magnolia ultimately emerged with a 53-39 dominance in the rebounding battle.
And then there was Lee, whose jumper followed by Sangalang's own basket gave the Hotshots a 64-58 lead which they would steadily add on when Abueva and Sangalang started doing most of their inside during the fourth quarter.
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The difference would get as high as 92-77.
Lee already matched his Game One production as early as the first half, 12 coming in the second quarter as he almost single-handedly brought Magnolia back from a 20-32 deficit and into a 38-36 halftime lead with his fourth triple of the game.
Chris Newsome led Meralco's losing cause with 18 points.(NC)
The scores:
Magnolia 92 - Lee 28, Sangalang 16, Abueva 11, Dela Rosa 8, Melton 6, Reavis 6, Corpuz 4, Jalalon 4, Barroca 4, Dionisio 3, Pascual 2, Brill 0, Ahanmisi 0, De Leon 0, Capobres 0.
Meralco 78 - Newsome 18, Pinto 12, Hugnatan 12, Belo 7, Quinto 7, Maliksi 7, Almazan 6, Caram 4, Hodge 3, Jose 2, Jackson 0, Black 0, Pasaol 0, Baclao 0, Jamito 0.
Quarters:13-13, 38-36, 64-58, 92-78.
