Magnolia erased an enormous deficit and stunned NLEX, 103-100, for a rousing PBA Philippine Cup win at the Angeles University Foundation in Pampanga on Wednesday, October 14.

Paul Lee converted a timely four-point play and Mark Barroca sank two crucial free throws in the endgame as the Hotshots came back from 22 points down to hike their record to 1-1.

NLEX led 100-97 with 40 seconds left but Lee, who finished with 18 points and 2 steals, put Magnolia back in the front seat with a triple and a bonus shot following a foul from Anthony Semerad.

Barroca then settled the score by going perfect at the line with 15 seconds remaining as Kiefer Ravena missed the potential overtime-forcing three-pointer at the buzzer.

Jio Jalalon put up 19 points, 5 steals, and 4 assists, while Chris Banchero had 19 points and 4 rebounds in the win – the two guards coming up big in the Hotshots’ second-half rally that erased the Road Warriors’ huge lead.

Losing its conference opener to Barangay Ginebra, NLEX was on its way to its first win after seizing a 70-48 lead early in the second half.

But Magnolia slowly chipped away at its deficit and eventually took the lead, 85-84, off a Jalalon three-pointer with 8 minutes left in the last frame.

The two teams exchanged big runs in the closing minutes but the Road Warriors simply ran out of steam as they missed the presence of several of their major contributors.

Kevin Alas and JR Quinahan, who delivered 18 and 16 points, respectively, for NLEX, both fouled out, while Jericho Cruz, who chimed in 17 points, left the court with 3 minutes remaining due to an apparent leg injury.

The game was reminiscent of their Governors’ Cup clash in November when the Road Warriors overcame a 26-point lead to beat the Hotshots.

Except this time, NLEX was on the wrong end of a massive comeback.

Ravena chalked up 27 points for the Road Warriors, who slid to 0-2 and joined Alaska at the bottom of the standings.

The loss saw NLEX veteran Asi Taulava notch a major career milestone as he became the only player in PBA history to play in 4 different decades after he saw action for more than 4 minutes.

Taulava started his PBA career in 1999.

The Scores

Magnolia 103 – Banchero 19, Jalalon 19, Lee 18, Barroca 13, Sangalang 9, Corpuz 9, Dionisio 8, Reavis 4, Dela Rosa 4, Melton 0, Calisaan 0.

NLEX 100 – Ravena 27, Alas 18, Cruz 17, Quinahan 16, Porter 5, Semerad 5, Ayonayon 5, Soyud 4, Ighalo 3, Miranda 0, Varilla 0, Galanza 0, Taulava 0.

Quarters : 23-23, 39-50, 70-78 , 103-100.

– Rappler.com