PUREFOODS OUTLASTS TNT IN TRIPLE OT
DAVAO CITY. – Title-holder Purefoods Stars charged back into strong contention for the Top Two in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup as the Hotshots followed up an overtime victory the last time out with a triple-overtime win over Talk ‘N Text in a classic road game at the USEP Gym here Saturday night.
On one strong knee, Denzel Bowles gave the Hotshots tremendous lift in the extra periods as they outlasted the Tropang Texters, 118-117, to force a tie between the two teams at second place at 6-3.
Limping and all after a knee-to-knee collision with Matt Ganuelas-Rosser at the start of the first OT, Bowles delivered the winning plays in the game that took three and a half hours to finish.
The Hotshots went ahead, 118-117, on a tough, off-balanced shot by Bowles over Jay Washington with time down to 7.1 seconds.
On the next play, Bowles was all over Danny Seigle, chopping precious seconds before the veteran Fil-Am forward could kick the ball out to Washington who then missed a three-point attempt at the buzzer.
Thus, the Hotshots scored a follow-up on their 113-105 overtime win over the San Miguel Beermen on March 1.
With these back-to-back overtime victories, the Hotshots got to within half-game of the pacesetting Meralco Bolts.
Purefoods gets a good shot at the Top Two finish at the end of the elims and a twice-to-beat incentive in the quarterfinals with a sweep of its last two games against Barako Bull and Meralco.
In this epic rematch between the 2014 Commissioner’s Cup title protagonists, Bowles bailed the Hotshots out time and again.
In the closing seconds in the first OT, the one-time PBA Best Import awardee scored on a tough shot off Ivan Johnson then foiled a drive by Jayson Castro to send the game into second extension play.
With fatigue getting into play, Bowles scored three of their four points in the second overtime.
And gaining a second wind, Bowles secured the win in the third OT.
Bowles capped a 28-point game with an off-balanced jumper off Washington that swished through the net with time down to 7.1 seconds.
He also came through with 15 rebounds, six assists and four blocks in a big game in this Petron BlazeSaturday Special that went down as a game to remember for the cheering Davaoeno fans.
It’s the first triple-overtime game in the PBA in five years, or since Meralco outlasted Rain or Shine 125-124 on Dec. 15, 2010.
Johnson also had a huge game for Talk ‘N Text but fouled out with 4:40 left in the second overtime.
Worse, the Tropang Texters also lost main local player Jayson Castro on cramps.
Washington took over on the ouster of Johnson and Castro, hitting incredible shots including a booming triple that pushed TNT ahead at 117-116 with 26 seconds left in the third OT. (SB)
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