Hotshots buck injuries, notch win No. 5

MANILA, Philippines — Magnolia overcame a major roadblock before getting past NLEX, 112-109, for its fifth straight win in the PBA Governors’ Cup with a live audience back at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Hotshots unleashed a crucial 14-2 salvo in the fourth quarter to turn the tables around after trailing by 11 then hit big shots after big shots in the endgame to preserve their clean record and hold of pole position.

The 5-0 card marked the team’s best start under coach Chito Victolero and boosted its bid for a guaranteed quarterfinals seat.

The Hotshots stayed on a run despite missing the hustle plays of do-it-all forward Calvin Abueva, who’s sidelined by a calf injury, and Rome dela Rosa, who’s out on hamstring issues.

“It’s a total team effort,” said Chito Victolero, whose second unit kept the team afloat before foul-riddled import Mike Harris, Paul Lee and Marc Barroca took over and delivered the coup de grace.

“We kept pressuring their (NLEX’) guards so we can get control and because of that, nagkaroon kami ng (big) run in a three-minute stretch. And once nag-close na ang game,the starters returned and finished the game strong.”

Later, wounded and weary TNT arrested a two-game slide with a huge 96-81 victory over San Miguel Beer and improved to 3-4. The Beermen, now reinforced by Orlando Johnson, slipped to 3-3.

Mikey Williams erupted for 30 points spiked by seven triples while import Aaron Fuller hauled down 26 rebounds with his 22 markers as  TNT pulled through in its third assignment in six days with RR Pogoy still out with a strained calf.