Hotshots best weary Warriors

The Magnolia Hotshots pummeled the hobbling NLEX Road Warriors for a 116-89 win in the 2018 PBA Commissioner’s Cup.

The Hotshots were simply on point from the get-go, burying NLEX in a 34-18 hole after the first quarter. The Road Warriors struggled to chip away at the deficit, managing to cut it to eight entering the final frame, 85-77.

Magnolia, however, saved a strong finishing kick for the final frame, overwhelming the Road Warriors in a 31-12 fourth quarter to earn the victory.

Wayne Chrism led the Hotshots with 27 points, while Paul Lee chipped in 21 off a high 60 percent clip from the field. Mark Barroca tallied 15 as a starter, while Aldrech Ramos paced the bench with 11 markers. Rodney Brondial and Jio Jalalon had 10 apiece.

Save for import Oluseyi Ashaolu’s 31 points and 12 boards, the rest of NLEX’s starters struggled to combine for just nine points. They only other players who scored in double figures were Mac Tallo and ROnjay Buenafe, who had 19 and 12 points, respectively.

With the win, Magnolia improved to 5-5 to create a three-way tie for sixth place with Ginebra and GlobalPort. NLEX, meanwhile, fell to 2-9- just ahead of cellar-dwellers Blackwater (1-10). —KBK, GMA News