Star outlasts Batang Pier in OT

MANILA, Philippines – Former UAAP MVP RR Garcia prevailed in this explosive match-up with collegiate teammate Terrence Romeo.

Finding his place in his new team, Garcia struck hard when it mattered most to lead Star Hotshots to a 105-102 overtime victory over GlobalPort in the PBA Governor’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last night.

Garcia sizzled with 26 points, highlighting his heroics with the game-tying basket in regulation and eight big markers in the extra period that helped snap Star’s early two-game skid.

Romeo actually won the scoring battle over his fellow King Tamaraw and batchmate in the PBA Rookie Class of 2013, firing 27 overall spiked by six triples, but he ended up losing the war as GlobalPort reeled to its third consecutive setback.

Garcia made all but two of his 13 shots all night to tow Star in scoring and added four rebounds.

“He got his confidence going tonight. And it was really fun seeing him and Terrence go at it,” Star coach Jason Webb said of the former King Tamaraw, whom the Hotshots acquired by shipping away Jonathan Uyloan, Mark Cruz and Norbert Torres in a three-team trade with Phoenix and GlobalPort.

“We gave up a lot to get him and he played like the three players we traded up combined tonight.”

Garcia broke the standoff at 102 by cashing in on his two free throws off a deliberate foul slapped on Stanley Pringle.

In the second game, Alaska detonated a lethal 15-4 bomb in the extra period to roll past Barangay Ginebra, 109-100. The Aces, who fired three triples in their crucial run, improved to an even 1-1 and caught up with their victims.