Star makes it to semis
The Star Hotshots struck twice against the GlobalPort Batang Pier, following up a record 53-point triumph the last time out with a hard-earned 101-94 win to reach the PBA Governors’ Cup Final Four at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Sunday.
There’s no repeat of a blowout victory but the Hotshots came through just the same and stayed in the running for a third straight Governors’ Cup title run.
Marqus Blakely produced triple-double numbers and the rest of the Star core group played tough as they negated Jarrid Famous’ monstrous double-double effort and gained the right to play the Alaska Aces in a best-of-five semifinal series.
Before this fateful Sunday evening, Star, for all its great achievements, was 0-of-5 in “twice-to-win” situations.
The same was the record of two-time grand slam champion coach Tim Cone.
“This is not easily done because it’s so hard. But I’m blessed with a special group of guys wanting to get special things,” said Cone.
“I knew it’s gonna be tough and it was. Credit goes to coach Pido Jarencio for making the turnaround after the blowout game Friday and even after they fell behind by 21 in the first half in this game,” Cone also said. “They kept fighting. They showed tremendous resilience. (Stanley) Pringle was awesome. He took over and we had no answer for him.”
But Cone and the Hotshots won’t be denied by Jarencio and his young, inexperienced GlobalPort crew.
Blakely and his teammates ran to the ground Famous and the Batang Pier at the finish, denying GlobalPort of further breakthrough in the tourney.
Blakely, Alex Mallari, James Yap, Mark Barroca and Marc Pingris pushed the ball hard in the crunch, keying a decisive 15-3 attack from a 74-all count.
The Hotshots stepped up the pace in the homestretch, sensing the Batang Pier could no longer keep up after a overhauling an early 21-point deficit at 18-39.
Famous collected giant numbers with 38 points and 21 rebounds but was a spent force in the closing minutes. Pringle sizzled with 16 markers, four assists and three rebounds but he cramped out with three minutes left to play.
The Hotshots, for their part, started and finished strong with Cone doing a good job rotating 10 guys.
Blakely was every inch a Best Import awardee that he is, piling up 16 rebounds, 15 points, 11 assists, four steals and three blocks in a great all-around game.
The Hotshots’ balanced scoring meanwhile had them routing the Batang Pier, 46-13, on points off the bench.
Outside Famous and Pringle, only Terrence Romeo put in double figures for the Batang Pier with his 15 points. (SB)
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