Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Star Hotshots played as though their playoff slot is at stake, trouncing the already-ran Blackwater Elite, 87-82, in their Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Governors’ Cup match at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.
With the GlobalPort Batang Pier win earlier against Alaska Aces, Star’s top four hopes were spoiled.
Nonetheless, the Hotshots will head to the quarterfinals holding a 6-5 win-loss record good for fifth spot and riding a three-game winning streak.
Import Marqus Blakely led the Star’s balanced attack with 22 points on top of 16 rebounds, five assists, seven steals, and four blocks.
Alex Mallari and Joe Deviance added 12 points apiece.
Blackwater, meanwhile, ended its first season in the league with a horrible 1-10 card but fought tooth and nail until the final buzzer.
Import Marcus Cousin had 21 points and 13 rebounds but got little help from his teammates.
It was only Bam-Bam Gamalinda who finished in double figures among the locals, scoring 12 points.
The scores:
STAR (87) – Blakely 22, Mallari 12, Devance 12, Simon 11, Barroca 10, Yap 10, Pingris 4, Taha 3, Melton 3, Reavis 0, Maliksi 0, Pennisi 0.
BLACKWATER (82) – Cousin 21, Gamalinda 12, Cervantes 9, Acuna 8, Celiz 7, Bulawan 5, Laure 5, Canada 5, Reyes 4, Erram 2, Heruela 2, Golla 2, Ballesteros 0.
Quarterscores: 19-21, 39-46, 67-64, 87-82
