By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots clawed back from a double-digit deficit to score a 119-103 victory over the skidding NLEX Road Warriors in the 2022-2023 PBA Governors’ Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Thursday night, February 16.

Down 66-55 midway in the third quarter, the Hotshots turned things around behind three-pointers by Antonio Hester, Paul Lee, Aris Dionisio, Jiovani Jalalon, and Andy Mark Barroca to surge ahead at 88-79.

The Road Warriors tried to stay within striking distance in the fourth quarter, but the Hotshots responded with inside conversions from Hester as the lead reached its largest at 108-87.

Hester finished with double-double 37 points and 15 rebounds, Lee added 18 markers, including four three-point conversions, as the Hotshots rolled to its third straight win for a 3-3 slate.

Jalalon had a near triple-double 17 points, 12 assists and nine rebounds to go with two steals, while Barroca and Dionisio ended with 13 markers apiece for the Hotshots.

Wayne Selden, Jr. had 25 points and nine assists, Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser added 20 markers, while Kris Rosales, Celedonio Trollano and Kevin Alas had 19, 16 and 15, respectively, as the Road Warriors dropped to 4-2.

Meanwhile, Leonard Santillan completed his fourth quarter offensive onslaught with a game-winner as Rain or Shine Elasto Painters escaped with a 120-118 win over Terrafirma Dyip. Both squads now had a 2-4 win-loss slate.

With the score tied at 118-all with 24 seconds left, Santillan scored on an uncontested basket from a pass by Rey Nambatac to surge the Painters ahead, 120-118, with 0.7 seconds in the game.

Santillan finished the game with 21 points, with 10 coming in the fourth quarter, to go with six rebounds, Andrei Caracut top-scored with 25 points, including six triples, while Gabriel Norwood added a conference-high 18 markers for the Painters.

Rain or Shine played without an import against Terrafirma, as Greg Smith II was still finalizing some papers for his clearance to play in the league.

MAGNOLIA 119 — Hester 37, Lee 18, Jalalon 17, Barroca 13, Dionisio 13, Abueva 10, Corpuz 4, Escoto 4, Dela Rosa 3, Ahanmisi 0, Reavis 0, Wong 0, Laput 0.

NLEX 103 — Selden Jr. 25, Ganuelas-Rosser 20, Rosales 19, Trollano 16, Alas 15, Semerad 4, Gabo 2, Pascual 0.

Quarterscores: 25-29, 49-50, 88-79, 119-103./ASC, WDJ