By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Paul Lee scored at the buzzer as the Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots escaped with a 96-95 win over Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings in Game 2 of the 2022 PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City yesterday.

Down 95-94 after a three-pointer by Kings’ Stanley Pringle, Lee attacked the basket on the next possession but lost it to Ginebra big man Japeth Aguilar.

However, Lee managed to recover the ball and drained a short jumper at the buzzer over the defense of Ginebra import Justin Brownlee to snatch the victory for the Hotshots.

Lee finished the game with 24 points, including five three-point conversions, as the Hotshots tied the best-of-five semifinals series at 1-1.

Nicholas Rakocevic added double-double 23 points and 20 rebounds, while Jiovani Jalalon and Calvin Abueva contributed 15 and 10 markers, respectively, for the Hotshots.

Down 88-90 late in the fourth, Andy Mark Barroca scored on a game-tying basket before connecting on a three-pointer to give the Hotshots a 93-92 advantage.

Barroca widened Magnolia’s lead to 94-92 with a split free throw with less than a minute left before Pringle swung the lead to Barangay Ginebra for the last time at 95-94 with a corner triple.

Brownlee led the Gin Kings with 34 points, while Pringle and Earl Scottie Thompson chipped in 17 and 15 markers, respectively.

MAGNOLIA 96 — Lee 24, Rakocevic 23, Jalalon 15, Abueva 10, Barroca 8, Sangalang 6, Ahanmisi 5, Dionisio 3, Dela Rosa 2, Corpuz 0, Wong 0

GINEBRA 95 — Brownlee 34, Pringle 17, Thompson 12, Tenorio 8, Malonzo 7, J. Aguilar 6, Standhardinger 6, Mariano 5, Pessumal 0, Gray 0

Quarterscores: 27-32, 51-50, 73-78, 96-95./ASC, WDJ