PUREFOODS RIPS ALASKA, 4-TEAM JAM ON TOP
Before giving way to Daniel Orton, Marqus Blakely helped Purefoods Star to a second straight win, with the Hotshots humbling the Alaska Milk Aces in a duel of the last two PBA Commissioner’s Cup champs.
Blakely logged 17 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists and three steals, leading a balanced Purefoods game as the Hotshots crushed a depleted Alaska side, 108-88, to tie Meralco, Talk n Text and Barako Bull at 2-0.
The 2013 Governors’ Cup Best Import awardee showed how a PBA reinforcement should play with Orton in the gallery at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Orton, a former OKC Thunder and Washington Wizard, had just flown in from China.
“Nandito na si Orton pero hindi namin basta papauwiin agad si Marqus,” said Rene Pardo, Purefoods’ representative to the PBA Board of Governors.
“Orton joins us in practice (Wednesday). Whoever we play Friday (against Blackwater) is not a slamdunk. We may play Marqus one more game. If Orton picks up our stuffs right away, he’ll already play for us Friday,” said Purefoods coach Tim Cone.
Cone is also concerned with the height of Orton who should make the 6-foot-9 ceiling.
“But we certainly enjoy the luxury having Marqus and Orton,” said Cone.
Once replaced, Blakely will return to reinforce the Hotshots in the Governors’ Cup.
Coming off an 83-70 whipping of the GlobalPort Batang Pier, the Hotshots fashioned out an even more dominant performance against the Aces who played sans the injury stricken Sonny Thoss and Jvee Casio.
Thoss will be out for at least four weeks due to a plantar fasciaitis while Casio could be out for two weeks with a hand injury. Josh Vanlandingham has been reactivated in lieu of Thoss.
Not helping Alaska much was DJ Convington’s mere 19-point and five-rebound game.
“We caught them off. They had very little practice time. Their turnaround time was so short. And they played tonight minus their two All-Star players in Sonny Thoss and Jvee Casio. They didn’t have much practice time with their import. All those things conspired to help us,” Cone said.
Purefoods dominated Alaska from the get-go, leading by 24 points right in the first half at 55-31.
Blakely, Alex Mallari, James Yap, Marc Pingris, Allein Maliksi and Mark Barroca scored at least seven each as the Hotshots took the half at 57-35.
Mallari went on to share team scoring honors with Blakely with 17 while Yap, Pingris and Maliksi finished with 15, 14 and 11, respectively.
“For the first time in a long time, we seem ready to start a conference,” said Cone, whose team is noted for being a slow starter.
The Hotshots overwhelmed the Aces as they dominated the boards, 51-35, and shot 38-of-75 (51 percent) from the field. (SB)
Subscribe to INQUIRER PLUS to get access to The Philippine Daily Inquirer & other 70+ titles, share up to 5 gadgets, listen to the news, download as early as 4am & share articles on social media. Call 896 6000.
