MAGNOLIA made it three-in-a-row after turning back Phoenix, 99-96, to sustain its rise in the PBA Commissioner's Cup Saturday at the Astrodome.
Import James Farr and Paul Lee came up big for the Hotshots, who are now above the .500 mark for the first time this conference after improving to 3-2 overall.
Farr had 26 points,18 rebounds, and three blocks, while Lee had a team-high 27 points and seven assists in the team's third straight win.
"Unti-unti bumabalik yung rhythm ng team," notes coach Chito Victolero after the Hotshots lost their first two games of the conference.
The victory was also a rousing welcome for comebacking veteran Marc Pingris who finally played his first game back after suffering an ACL/MCL injuries during the semifinals of the Philippine Cup last year.
Pingris played for a total of seven minutes and was scoreless during that stretch, but managed to grab two rebounds.
Phoenix fell to a 2-4 record.
The Fuel Masters kept the game close throughout but somehow couldn't overcome the hump as the Hotshots always had a ready answer in every Phoenix run.
The loss foiled another monster performance for import Richard Howell who finished with 36 points and 20 rebounds.
Matthew Wright added 19 points and RJ Jazul with 15 on 4-of-6 shooting from three-point range for the Fuel Masters, who missed the services of injured players LA Revilla (fractured foot) and Jaypee Mendoza (bone spurs).
Last season's Rookie of the Year Jason Perkins was held scoreless and only had two rebounds in 23 minutes of play as he is nursing an injury to his shoulder.
The scores:
Magnolia (99) - Lee 27, Farr 26, Barroca 11, Jalalon 10, Sangalang 8, Dela Rosa 8, Brondial 7, Melton 2, Pingris 0,
Phoenix (96) - Howell 36, Wright 19, Jazul 15, Chua 8, Marcelo 7, Mallari 6, Wilson 3, Dennison 2, Perkins 0, Intal 0, Kramer 0.
Quarterscores: 23-24; 47-45; 71-67; 99-96.
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