Paul Lee saves days as Magnolia escapes Ginebra, evens semis series at 1-1

Veteran guard Paul Lee nailed the game-winning basket as Magnolia escaped Barangay Ginebra, 96-95, in Game Two to level their best-of-five semifinal series in the 2022 PBA Commissioner's Cup on Friday at the PhilSports Arena. 

Lee almost turned the ball over but found the leather just in time to sink the crucial floater in the final 5.1 seconds as the Hotshots evened their series to one game apiece.

Prior to Lee's last shot, Ginebra was in the driver's seat after Stanley Pringle drilled a huge triple for a 95-94 cushion. 

But Lee, whose assist to Mark Barroca at the 1:37 mark of the fourth led to a triple of their own, 93-92, proved clutch in the dying moments. He finished with a team-high 24 points alongside four assists and two rebounds.

Import Nicholas Raokcevic dropped a double-double of 23 markers, 20 boards, three blocks, and two dimes to bounce back from Game 1 loss where he was ejected early in the third period. 

Jio Jalalon chipped in 15 points while Calvin Abueva also had 10. 

Justin Brownlee, who only had 11 points last game, finished with 34 to go along with four rebounds, five assists, two steals, and two blocks while Pringle tallied 17 markers and seven boards off the bench. 

Game Three of the Manila Clasico semifinals is on Sunday at the same venue.

—JMB, GMA Integrated News