The Star Hotshots were not to be denied
Six-time All-Filipino Conference champions Star Hotshots booked their ticket to the next round of the 2016 PBA Philippine Cup in emphatic fashion, cutting the lines of the Meralco Bolts in emphatic fashion, 120-73, Saturday afternoon at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
Besides entering the quarterfinals, the win helps Star keep pace with TNT and Alaska for the top two spots with identical 6-4 records. Meralco finished their conference with a 3-8 slate, 11th in the standings.
“I’m happy na nasa quarters na kami,” first year Star Hotshots head coach Chito Victolero said.
The 47-point loss is the widest margin of defeat that the Bolts, who have been in the PBA since 2010, have ever absorbed. The previous franchise record was a 44-point pounding they had received against the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters back in October 30, 2011. Ironically, the game was held in the same venue.
“I challenged my players. We needed to be mentally tough in this game kasi nakakatakot yung Meralco e, tinalo nila Rain or Shine,” Victolero said. “Wala pa silang pressure. Pero veterans naman players ko.”
Right from the get-go, the Hotshots played with a vigor last seen in their 44-point blowout of the Phoenix Fuel Masters this conference.
Allein Maliksi fueled the demolition, scoring 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting in the first half, while starting backcourt Paul Lee and Justin Melton added 10 markers apiece during the frame and combined for four triples.
Maliksi led seven Hotshots in double-figures with 25 points on 9-of-15 shooting — including five triples — to go along with five rebounds.
“Alam naman ni Allain yan eh. Tinatrabaho niya naman yan,” Victolero remarked about the 29-year-old swingman.
Prior to the break, Star had held a 34-point lead, 63-29, after Maliksi knocked down his third triple with 1:06 remaining. In addition, Star locked in on defense, limiting Meralco to just 33 percent shooting in the first 24 minutes of the game.
“First of all, I’m very happy with our defense,” Victolero said.
Meralco had absolutely no answer to Star as the lead grew to a conference-high 55 points, 104-49, with 8:12 remaining after four straight points by Jiovani Jalalon.
Jalalon led the bench mob with 15 points on 7-of-9 shooting. Star had 66 bench points in the game. Paul Lee added 15 points and five dimes.
Star finished the game shooting 56 percent from the field compared to 38 percent for Meralco. Moreover, Star knocked down 17 triples in the game, 10 coming from the troika of Maliksi, Lee, and Melton. The Hotshots also handled the ball better, committing just 10 errors compared to 21 for the Bolts.
Chris Newsome was the only Bolts in double-figures with 13 points on 5-of-10 shooting.
Star look to gain a top two seed on Wednesday, February 1, when they face the Mahindra Enforcers.
The Scores:
Star 120 – Maliksi 25, Lee 15, Jalalon 15, Ramos 13, Melton 10, Barroca 10, Sangalang 10, Abundo 8, Reavis 4, De Leon 3, Abundo 3, Dela Rosa 2, Brondial 2, Pingris 0.
Meralco 73 – Newsome 13, Al Hussaini 9, Hugnatan 7, Amer 7, Uyloan 6, Caram 6, Grey 5, Chua 4, Faundo 4, Dillinger 4, Daquioag 3, Hodge 3, Yeo 2, Nabong 0.
Quarterscores: 28-19, 63-31, 90-43, 120-73
