The Magnolia Hotshots is scheduled for a head-to-head game against the NorthPort Batang Pier at 4 PM on November 8, 2020, live from the AUF Sports Arena and Cultural Center in Angeles City, Pampanga.
Paul Lee came through with another big-time performance, nearly outscoring the entire Rain or Shine team in the first half and himself delivering the crucial blows to finish off the Elasto Painters in a crucial face-off.
Lee exploded for 31 points, including 21 in the first half and in their last four, as Magnolia stretched its hot streak to four games with a 70-62 win over Rain or Shine to close in on an outright playoff entry in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart 5G-powered AUF Sports Center.
Lee fired three triples and went 6-of-6 from the stripe to highlight his 31-point game, marked by five rebounds and two assists in another heckuva game, personally beating ROS. Lee’s score on Saturday topped his 29-point performance last Thursday against Terrafirma Dyip.
The Hotshots had their biggest lead at 20 after a Rome dela Rosa shot opened the second half, 41-21. Magnolia limited the Elastopainters to just five points in the second quarter.
The Hotshots improved to 5-4 while the Elasto Painters dropped to 4-4.
Meanwhile, with NorthPort Batang Pier’s defeat over the Alaska Aces, 102-94, the latter was handed the fourth playoff ticket in the PBA bubble.
Big men Abu Tratter and Rodney Brondial were too much for Christian Standhardinger and the rest of the Batang Pier, as both submitted 16 points each.
Alaska held NorthPort to just 37% shooting from the field. More importantly, the Batang Pier made only six of 32 attempts from long range (18.8%) — a far cry from their 17-of-36 output from downtown against Barangay Ginebra on Wednesday.
In particular, Kevin Ferrer was kept in check by the Aces; after lighting up the Gin Kings with seven triples on 11 tries, he made just 2-of-9 on Friday.
NorthPort’s Christian Standhardinger, on the other hand, came through with a career-high 39 points for his team in a losing effort.