The Magnolia Hotshots held off a late charge from the Blackwater Bossing, 107-101, Friday, October 9, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium for their fourth straight win in the PBA Governors Cup. Import KJ Buffen led the way with 24 points and 20 rebounds.

The victory lifted Magnolia to 5-3 and second place in Group B after a listless start. Blackwater fell to 3-4 and remained fourth, but it must win its final three games to hold off an expected charge from Meralco and Barangay Ginebra.

Buffen, Lastimosa Lead Magnolia Hotshots Past Blackwater Bossing

Buffen closed out his big night with a five-point burst that made it 105-97 with 2:10 left. Magnolia had earlier built a lead as large as 93-80 with sustained attacks the Bossing could not match.

Kentrell Barkley and Sedrick Barefield pulled Blackwater within 105-101 with 39 seconds left. A Chris Koon steal then led to free throws by Jerom Lastimosa that set the final score with 3.6 seconds to play.

Lastimosa, a former Adamson player, matched Buffen’s output and had a team-high seven assists. He led a 56-point effort from Magnolia’s bench, while the Hotshots won the rebounding battle, 55-36, which offset their 18 turnovers.

Barefield led the Bossing with 24 points. Barkley added 20 points, 13 rebounds and a game-high eight assists, Mike DiGregorio scored 15 points in his third game back, and RK Ilagan chipped in 13.

PBA Standings Watch: Tenorio Preaches a Playoff Mentality

Coach LA Tenorio praised his players for buying into a “playoffs” mentality. “They know how important these next three games are for us. They know how important this homestretch is,” he said.

Tenorio’s assistants ran practices while he was away with Gilas Pilipinas for the FIBA window and the Asian Games. He said the work paid off, calling the game the first of the playoffs for his team.

Blackwater remains fourth in Group B at 3-4 and has no margin for error with three games left. Magnolia, at 5-3, now turns to a stretch its coach considers crucial to its playoff push.