Mahindra Enforcers opened their 2016 PBA Governor’s Cup campaign on a high note after edging Star Hotshots in overtime, 100-92, Friday night at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City.
Enforcer James White led the Enforcers, finishing with 22 points and 8 rebounds.
“It’s such a blessing from up above, and I feel really grateful. And, I’m humbled that I’m here. It’s a dream come true,” said rookie Mahindra head coach Chris Gavina, on his thoughts about opening his PBA coaching career with a win
Mahindra and Star were still shaking off rust in the opening quarter, as such dilemma was evident with the game’s slow pace. However, both squads slowly recovered with Mahindra going first, crawling from an 11-8 deficit to snag the upper hand, 14-11, after back-to-back triples from Iman Zandi late in the frame. Star chipped in baskets off the stripe and lay-ups courtesy of James Yap, Rafi Reavis and RR Garcia, but Mahindra, behind perimeter jumpers from Chito Jaime, managed to end the first 12 minutes of action ahead by four, 22-18.
The Hotshots played catch-up ball in the second frame, unloading an 11-4 run from a 25-20 deficit led by Mark Barroca, Alex Mallari, and Marqus Blakely to take a two-point lead midway, 31-29. But the Enforcers did not crumble as the combo of Paolo Taha and Zandi found ways to score and brought Mahindra up again, 38-36. Both teams traded baskets approaching the end of the quarter, but Star had the last laugh as key baskets from Blakely and ace forward Marc Pingris helped them wrap up the first half up by a point, 42-41.
Mahindra, early in the third canto, gained the lead by hitting seven points to go up, 48-46. Star replied with seven straight points to go up by five, 53-48 with less than eight minutes left. Mahindra closed by a single point, 58-57, but failed to snatch the lead as Blakely took Star’s offensive load by himself, using his strength down low to make baskets and fish for fouls to earn points from the line and help the Hotshots take a six-point lead, 65-59 with less than four minutes left. Despite Mahindra coming back, Star ended the frame ahead 69-67.
A 69-all deadlock raised the final quarter’s curtains, but Ramos and Zandi propelled Mahindra to a 74-69 lead. Star came back and closed by a point, 74-73, but Nino Canaleta nailed three charities to stretch the lead, 77-73. From there, Mahindra and Star had their groove on offense. and both teams exchanged baskets and leads simultaneously. But, come the final two minutes, the two teams somehow went cold, and both James White and Yap missed key baskets — both through jumpers — that could have propelled their teams to victory.. It was 87-all at the end of regulation.
LA Revilla and Ramos opened the extra five minutes with five straight points to send the Enforcers ahead, 92-87. RR Garcia sank a trey of his own to help Star inch closer, 92-90, but a putback by the lanky White off a Revilla miss made it a four-point game, 94-90, with less than two minutes left in overtime. It was all Mahindra down the stretch, as Canaleta, Revilla and Taha sank clutch baskets to help Mahindra welcome the Governor’s Cup with a victory, 100-92.
“I’m hoping for continuous success for our team,” the rookie coach added.
Four more Mahindra players scored in double figures, with Ramos having 17 points while Asian reinforcement Zandi made 15. Canaleta and Taha had 10 points apiece.
Star, on the other hand, were led by Blakely with a double-double as he scored 21 points and hauled 15 boards.
The Scores:
Mahindra (100) – White 22, Ramos 17, Mashaddy 15, Canaleta 10, Taha 10, Revilla 9, Aguilar 7, Jaime 7, Yee 3, Agovida 0, Bagatsing 0, Pinto 0, Ballesteros 0, Digregorio 0, Guinto 0, Elorde 0.
Star (92) – Blakely 21, Barroca 15, Simon 12, Garcia 10, Pingris 8, Maliksi 6, Sangalang 6, Mallari 5, Reavis 5, Yap 4.
Quarterscores: 22-18, 42-41, 69-67, 87-87, 100-92.
