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SERVICES
THE INQUIRER COMPANY
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04
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18
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2024
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SERVICES
THE INQUIRER COMPANY
04
18
2024
Paul Lee approached his former coach and wedding godfather Yeng Guiao to give his respect before the game.
Then he gave Guiao and his new team, the NLEX Road Warriors, crucial beating on the hard court.
Lee finally had his breakout game as a Star Hotshot, firing away four treys and a total of 20 points as they broke into the win-column in the 2016-17 PBA Philippine Cup with a 99-75 toppling of the Road Warriors at the MOA Arena in Pasay City Wednesday night.
It’s also the ball club’s first win over Guiao in two years, and curiously a former Guiao player had a big hand on it.
Lee knocked in back-to-back treys then scored on a short stab as he personally held off an NLEX rally entering the homestretch.
With their siege foiled, the Road Warriors suffered a second straight loss after a triumphant season debut over the Alaska Milk Aces.
Star caught up with NLEX and Alaska Milk at 1-2, just half game behind Barangay Ginebra (1-1) and Meralco (1-1) and a game behind joint leaders Blackwater (2-1), Globalport (2-1), Rain or Shine (2-1), TNT KaTropa (2-1), Phoenix (2-1) and San Miguel Beer (2-1).
The whole Star team finally got its act together and handed coach Chito Victolero his first win with the ball clubs.
“It’s a crucial win dahil biglang dikit kami sa mga leaders. Otherwise, mababaon kami ng husto sa ilalim,” said Star coach Chito Victolero.
“It’s more about our defense. Nag-commit ang mga players ko sa defensive plan namin. Then there’s their desire to win,” Victolero also said.
Jio Jalalon and Mark Barroca combined for 27 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists on their solid off-the-bench efforts while Ian Sangalang, Aldrech Ramos and Allein Maliksi put in double-digit outputs as frontcourt starters.
The Hotshots pulled away late in the third, then back-to-back baskets by Sangalang and Marc Pingris to start the fourth quarter gave Star a huge 18-point spread at 75-57.
Raul Soyud, Garvo Lanete and Jonas Villanueva tried to spark a rally, bringing NLEX to within eight at 71-79.
But then Lee exploded with an eight-point binge to widen the gap anew.
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