ORTON DEBUTS AS UNBEATEN HOTSHOTS GUN FOR SHARE OF LEAD
Purefoods Star finally unveils new import Daniel Orton, looking to sustain the momentum built with Marqus Blakely as the Hotshots tangle with the NLEX Road Warriors in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Wednesday.
Game time is at 7 p.m. with the Hotshots gunning for a fourth straight win versus the NLEX side now aching to break into the win-column following a 0-2 start in the mid-season tourney.
Purefoods coach Tim Cone said Orton has integrated well with the team making them hopeful of keeping a perfect slate following earlier wins over GlobalPort, Alaska and Blackwater.
In those games, Blakely, a one-time PBA Best Import awardee in the Governors’ Cup, did a sterling job as a stand-in import, averaging 22 points, 14.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 3.0 steals and 2.6 blocks against 2.6 errors.
Orton was in the stands, witnessing Purefoods’ victories over Alaska and Blackwater. Thus the Oklahoma native, with brief stints as a OKC Thunder, Philadelphia Sixer and Orlando Magic, already has an idea how his teammates play.
“We’ve had a few days to integrate Daniel into our offense and defense. He has integrated well,” said Cone of their new recruit, fresh from a tour of duty with the Sichuan Blue Whales team in the Chinese league.
At the same time, Cone said they’re not taking the Road Warriors and their import Al Thornton lightly.
“NLEX has played much better than their record indicates. With Thornton, they’re very explosive,” said Cone.
The Road Warriors engaged the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters and the Alaska Aces in a battle, barely losing at endgame.
NLEX dropped a 95-96 decision versus Alaska Saturday as Thornton failed to make an attempt on the Aces’ helping defense in the last four seconds.
Needless to say, Purefoods, a former four-peat and grand slam winner, is the odds-on pick versus the NLEX team which the Hotshots clobbered, 92-76, during the elims in the last Philippine Cup.
In their last game, the Hotshots roared to a third straight win with a 98-86 drubbing of the Elite.
Blakely came up with 23 points and 13 rebounds while Mark Barroca, Justin Melton and Allein Maliksi all delivered double-digit outputs coming off the bench as Purefoods negated Marcus Douthit’s near triple-double game with 30 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists.
Even with Purefoods’ starters taking some rest, the Hotshots dominated the Elite three-fourths of the way.
“I didn’t feel we’re in complete focus. But we put in an effort good enough to win,” said Cone.
“Our second group came out and busted the game open for us, allowing us to rest James (Yap), Joe (Devance) and our big guys,” Cone also said.
The Hotshots will be fresh from a five-day respite in going up against the Road Warriors. (SB)
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