Magnolia spoils Murphy’s SMB debut on Lee winner

Lee’s leaner–plus Ian Sangalang’s block on Alex Cabagnot’s floater–saved the Hotshots from Kevin Murphy’s explosive as a Beerman. (Photo: PBA/Website)

MANILA — Paul Lee broke San Miguel’s hearts as Magnolia escaped with a 109-108 victory in their PBA Governors’ Cup clash at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City on Sunday night.

Lee’s leaner–plus Ian Sangalang’s block on Alex Cabagnot’s floater–saved the Hotshots from Kevin Murphy’s explosive as a Beerman.

Magnolia’s endgame heroics, however, started with Justin Melton.

With the team down 104-108 with less than a minute to play, Melton fired a quick triple off the inbound pass from Romeo Travis to cut the deficit down to one with 51.8 seconds to go.

As Murphy missed a jumper, Travis grabbed the rebound and quickly gave the ball to Mark Barroca, who found Lee at the right corner for the one-dribble pull-up leaner with 34.3 seconds left.

The club’s defense then forced Kelly Nabong to a long triple that he actually nearly converted.

Travis, however, tapped the ball to Chris Standhardinger, who found an opening for a jump hook only that he muffed the shot.

Cabagnot got the loose ball after another tap and drove to the basket for the teardrop, but Sangalang got a piece of Cabagnot’s heave as time expired.

Lee, despite turning the ball six times, finished with 28 points, three rebounds, and three assists for the Hotshots, who tied the Blackwater Elite in second place at 4-1.

Murphy dropped 37 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists, one steal, and one block for the Beermen, who fell to 2-3.