MAGNOLIA relied on the hot hands of import Antonio Hester.to subdue NLEX,119- 103, for its third straight win in the PBA Governors’ Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Hester, who replaced Eric McCree, came through with 37 points, 15 rebounds and five assists to power the Hotshots to a come-from-behind victory over the Road Warriors.

Paul Lee added 19 points, Jio Jalalon contributed 17 points, nine rebounds and 10 assists, Aris Dionisio and Mark Barroca had 13 points apiece and Calvin Abueva had 10 for the Hotshots, who outscored the Road Warriors, 70-53, in the second half to turn the game around.

“It was all about adjustments in the second half. I told them we needed to get our pace kasi NLEX had the pace in the first half,” said Magnolia coach Chito Victolero.

NLEX import Wayne Selden Jr. finished with 25 points, 14 of them in the first half.

With back-to-back losses, the Road Warriors dropped to 4-2.

Earlier, Leonardo Santillan hit the game-winner — an undetgoal stab — with 0.7 seconds left as import-lessRain or Shine edged Terrafirma, 120-118.

Santillan’s heroics came after Jordan Williams of Terrafirma tied the score at 118-118 with a lay-up with 25 seconds left.

Ray Nambatac wisely dribbled the ball before finding Santillan for the winning basket.

Five players, lrd by former La Salle starb Andrei Caracut, scored 8n double-figures for the Elasto Painters.

Caracut finished with a career-high 25 points , including 6-of-8 shooting from beyond thei arc, in 27 minutes of action for coach Yeng Guiao

Santillan had 21 points and six rebounds while veteran Gabe Norwood added 18 points and five rebounds off the bench.

Rey Nambatac had 14 points, seven assists and five rebounds.

Williams led the losing effort of Terrafirma with a double-double performance of 30 points and 16 rebounds for coach Johndel Cardel

Juami Tiongson added 23 points, Eric Camson had 14 points and Andreas Cahilig and Alex Cabagnot chipped in 13 points each.

The scores:

First game

Rain or Shine (120) – Caracut 25, Santillan 21, Norwood 18, Nambatac 14, Asistio 10, Belga 9, Borboran 8, Ildefonso 6, Yap 4, Ponferrada 3, Demusis 2, Clarito 0, Torres 0
Terrafirma (118) — J.Williams 30, Tiongson 23, Camson 14, Cabagnot 13, Cahilig 13, Ramos 6, Gomez de Liano 6, Calvo 5, Gabayni 4, Alolino 3, Daquioag 1
Quarterscores: 33-28, 59-57, 90-87, 120-118.

Second game

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.