Star seeks to repeat over NLEX

The Star Hotshots and the NLEX Road Warriors face off in the main game of the first road game in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup in Binan, Laguna Saturday, with the former looking to keep their domination of the latter in their head-on duels.

James Yap and company seek a fifth win against Asi Taulava and his teammates as they clash at 5:15 p.m. before an expected good weekend crowd at the Alonte Sport Center.

For the record, Star is the only team NLEX hasn’t beaten in the young history of the Road Warriors ball club.

In their matchup in the same tourney last year, Denzel Bowles showed up Al Thornton and the Hotshots clobbered the Road Warriors, 87-62.

Then the Hotshots made it four in a row over the Road Warriors last conference with a 97-95 decision.

But as they set out for their Petron-sponsored out-of-town tussle in Binan, NLEX sports a 1-1 win-loss mark while Star is winless on two starts.

The Road Warriors upended the Barangay Ginebra Kings, 114-112, in overtime before succumbing against the Phoenix Fuel Masters, 106-118.

The Hotshots, meanwhile, have remained on a slump from last conference as they started their Commissioner’s Cup campaign with back-to-back losses to the Meralco Bolts and the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.

Coach Boyet Fernandez and his troops are aching to pull a first one versus the Star Hotshots.

Thornton looks in great shape compared to last season, exploding for 50 points to power the Road Warriors past the Gin Kings.

A legitimate former NBA player who once averaged 16 points in a season in the majors, Thornton sizzled with 16-of-31 field shooting and 16-of-20 free throws for a second 50-point game in the local pro league.

“We had doubt on his ability to play this conference because he has just undergone a stem cell treatment. It’s all on Al. It’s his fighting spirit kaya nakalaro agad siya,” said the NLEX coach.

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