Hotshots stun No. 1 Beermen, force do-or-die
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The eighth-seeded Star Hotshots forced a do-or-die duel with the top-ranked San Miguel Beermen in their Oppo PBA Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals matchup with a stirring 108-99 win at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Monday night.
Ricardo Ratliffe came through with a huge double-double game with 33 points and 29 rebounds while Allein Maliksi and PJ Simon produced 23 and 22 points, respectively, as the Hotshots erased the first of Beermen’s twice-to-beat advantage.
The two teams will already be on even terms as they square off in a knockout duel Wednesday also at the Big Dome.
“For as long as there’s still possession, we have a chance. It’s now who’s gonna get lucky on Wednesday,” said Star coach Jason Webb.
The Hotshots lived to force the KO match as they fought back from double-digit deficits in the first half and pummeled the Beermen down the stretch.
Ratliffe, Simon, Maliksi and Rafi Reavis joined forces in a vicious 14-to-nothing run propelling Star to a 101-89 lead entering the last two minutes of play.
“Super tough game. That was playoff basketball personified. These guys just never gave up and never gave in,” said Webb.
The rookie Star coach also lauded his coaching staff for helping him map out their winning game plan.
He acknowledged though that they haven’t achieved anything yet, expecting a tough fightback from the Beermen.
In the same manner, Webb doesn’t discount their chance to reprise their winning effort versus Globalport in the 2015 Governors Cup quarterfinals.
The Hotshots overcame a twice-to-win disadvantage in that tourney.
With a better bench production, the Beermen dominated through the first half, 53-42.
San Miguel led by as many as 13 at 39-26 before settling for that nine-point halftime lead with a balanced scoring that easily offset Ratliffe’s 19 points and 11 rebounds.
As Simon found a good rhythm in the third period, the Hotshots rallied to pull even at 65.
Star pulled ahead at 76-75 on Justin Melton’s basket to start the payoff period.
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