The Magnolia Hotshots look to avoid another early playoff exit as they take on the TNT Tropang 5G for the last time in the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup.
Paul Lee and the Magnolia Hotshots aim to avoid another early playoff exit as they take on TNT Tropang 5G in a do-or-die PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup quarterfinal match on Saturday, June 21, at 5:00 p.m. at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Magnolia squandered a twice-to-beat advantage after blowing a 13-point lead in their first meeting, falling 89-88 to a resurgent TNT side that has now forced a sudden-death encounter.
Lee led the Hotshots with 15 points, including a clutch four-pointer that tied the game at 88 with 37 seconds left.
Zavier Lucero and Will Navarro chipped in 14 points apiece, but Magnolia struggled to contain TNT’s late surge led by RR Pogoy and Calvin Oftana.
Now, the third-seeded Hotshots are pressed to regroup and rediscover their defensive identity if they want to advance to the semifinals — and shut the door on TNT’s Grand Slam ambitions.
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[Editor's note: This article was written by a member of the One Sports Digital with the help of AI, and then checked by the staff to ensure accuracy.]