Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — The Star Hotshots pulled away late to beat GlobalPort Batang Pier, 101-94, and advance to the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Governors’ Cup semifinals at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.
The Hotshots, who forged the Sunday’s (June 28) sudden-death quarterfinal match with a 53-point win over Batang Pier, will face the Alaska Aces in a best-of-five encounter in the penultimate stage.
Import Marqus Blakely frolicked with a rare triple-double outing of 15 points, 16 rebounds, and 11 assists.
James Yap and Alex Mallari topscored for the Hotshots with 17 points apiece.
The Hotshots used an 18-5 barrage, capped by a Mallari triple, in the final quarter to put the game away, 92-79.
It also didn’t help that GlobalPort lost Stanley Pringle in the final three minutes to cramps.
The rookie scored all his 16 points in the second half, but went down upon sinking a breakaway layup in transition.
Star capitalized on his absence and continued to pounce on the Batang Pier.
