Magnolia Pambansang Manok slipped past NLEX, 112-109, to keep its unbeaten slate intact in the PBA Governors’ Cup on Wednesday, Feb. 16, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Mike Harris scored the insurance basket with 12.0 seconds left after the Road Warriors’ rookie Matt Nieto missed all three free throws in the previous possessions to give the Hotshots their best start under coach Chito Victolero with a 5-0 record.
Harris had 31 points and 10 rebounds while Paul Lee added 21 points in Magnolia’s escape act which came despite missing Calvin Abueva due to an injured calf. Victolero said Abueva could be out for at least two weeks.
Nieto had a chance to save the Road Warriors after being fouled by Jio Jalalon from beyond the three-point line with 32 seconds left and Magnolia holding a 110-109 lead.
But Nieto, playing in just his second game, muffed all three freebies much to his disappointment, and Magnolia made sure it would bite NLEX back.
Harris made it a three-point game with reverse layup then the Road Warriors failed to convert a pair of game-tying attempts by KJ McDaniels and Don Trollano.
McDaniels finished with 35 points, 13 rebounds, three assists and six blocks but NLEX fell to 4-3 after a third consecutive defeat.
