Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Joe Devance and import Marqus Blakely shone as the Star Hotshots pummeled the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, 89-82, in Sunday’s Manila Clasico at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum Sunday (June 7).
Devance scattered team-high 26 points and Blakely had 19 for the Hotshots, who racked up their second straight win in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Governors’ Cup.
More importantly, Star improved to a 3-4 win-loss record to share the seventh place with the Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters and Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.
Ginebra, which came off a rousing victory over GlobalPort Batang Pier, reeled to a 3-5 card.
Star rolled on to a scintillating start, taking a 25-9 lead at the end of the opening quarter.
The beating didn’t end there.
Alex Mallari unleashed a three-pointer with 4:39 left in the second period to give the Hotshots a 19-point spread, 40-21.
But Ginebra showed signs of life in the second half, slowly cutting the Hotshots down to size.
A three-pointer by import Orlando Johnson sliced the deficit to four, 82-86, with 16.9 ticks to go.
But the Star held its effort, going 3-for-4 from the foul line to seal the win.
