ZAVIER Lucero and Mark Barroca came through with clutch baskets in overtime as Magnolia outlasted NLEX, 99-95, and finally snapped out of a four-game losing skid in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
Lucero kept the Hotshots ahead with big shots early in the extra period before Barroca scored on a driving layup to put the team in front for good, 96-95, in a game of wildly changing fortunes.
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Import Ricardo Ratfliffe finished with a monster game of 38 points, 19 rebounds, and two free throws that clinched the win for the Hotshots, who played without top star Paul Lee after he was sidelined by a freak accident during the warm-ups.
“It’s a character game for us,” said coach Chito Victolero, whose team improved to 2-4. “We’re down at this stage of the tournament, but we’re not out.”
Lucero had a conference-high of 14 points (6-of-8 from the field) including back-to-back baskets early in overtime that gave Magnolia a 94-90 lead.
But Robert Bolick answered with a clutch 4-point shot and a foul to boot from rookie Jerom Lastimosa. The NLEX guard then sank the bonus free throw to complete the first ever five-point play in PBA history that put the Road Warriors on top, 95-94, with 55.5 seconds remaining
Barroca, who finished with 12 points, then took matters into his own hands, and drove inside for Magnolia’s go-ahead basket.
Lastimosa added 13 and Calvin Abueva added 11 rebounds for the Hotshots, who will be facing old rival Barangay Ginebra in its next game on Christmas Day.
There was a moment of concern for Magnolia though at the final buzzer after Barroca laid down on the floor for several minutes following a collision with Abueva while the two tried to chase the loose ball in the game’s final sequence.
Bolick had a game-high 28 points, five rebounds, and nine assists for NLEX, which lost for the third straight time and fell to a 3-4 record.
The scores:
Magnolia (99) - Ratliffe 38, Lucero 14, Lastimosa 13, Barroca 12, Balanza 6, Abueva 6, Mendoza 3, Dionisio 3, Dela Rosa 2, Sangalang 2, Laput 0, Ahanmisi 0.
NLEX (95) - Bolick 28, Herndon 18, Watkins 17, Alas 11, Torres 8, Mocon 6, Semerad 5, Policarpio 2, Nieto 0, Rodger 0, Marcelo 0, Valdez 0.
Quarterscores: 21-22; 38-45; 64-63; 87-87; 99-95.
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