The Magnolia Hotshots is scheduled for a head-to-head game against the TNT Tropang Giga at 4 PM on November 4, 2020 live from the AUF Sports Arena and Cultural Center in Angeles City, Pampanga.
With under a minute to go, Paul Lee hit a dagger that ended Magnolia’s four-game Clasico losing streak to Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings. In their 102-92 triumph, Hotshots also snapped a three-game skid in the 2020 PBA Philippine Cup.
Adamant of Gin Kings’ onslaught in the latter portion of the third quarter that seized a 10-point lead by the Hotshots, Magnolia unleashed a 13-0 run, capped by a Lee three-point play, to put the Hotshots in control, 78-75.
With five minutes to go after Ginebra came within one, Barroca unleashed a timely three-pointer that gave Magnolia some breathing room, 89-85. After Pringle put Ginebra within three points, 92-89, Lee and Rafi Reavis calmly sank their free throws, while the Magnolia defense forced the Gin Kings into rushed jumpers. Lee would then hit the dagger triple with 58 seconds to go to make it 99-89 in favor of the Hotshots, and the Gin Kings faded away from there.
Jackson Corpuz scored 16 of his 20 points in the first half, keeping the Hotshots in the game amid Ginebra’s hot shooting from beyond the arc. Lee finished with 15 points after shooting just four-of-12 from the field. Mark Barroca also had 15 points, and Ian Sangalang shrugged off injury to score 14 markers and grab eight rebounds.
Meanwhile, the TNT Tropang Giga was a tremendous force in their return from a loss to the NLEX Road Warriors the last time out, blowing past the NorthPort Batang Pier, 112-87, and into an outright playoff entry in the PBA bubble.
The Tropang Giga made good use of the energy preserved from a four-game breather, tearing the Batang Pier apart early and thus freeing the key TNT players some playing load.
Bobby Ray Parks scored on a jam and drained treys to touch off his 22-point game, pacing TNT as it automatically entered the playoffs with a sixth win against a lone defeat. The next goal is a top-four finish and a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals.
This, however, is a virtual do-or-die match for Magnolia. The Chito Victolero-coached team must dig deep to claim the important win and keep their position in the fringes of the Top Eight at 2-4.