Star reasserts mastery over Phoenix
February 4, 2017 | 7:55pm
Star's Raffi Reavis and Rodney Brondial battle for leather possession with Phoenix's Mark Borboran during their quarterfinals clash at the Mall of Asia Arena, Saturday night. | PBA Media Bureau
MANILA, Philippines – Same venue. Same teams. Same results.
Well, sort of.
Star torched Phoenix anew, 114-83, in their best-of-three quarterfinals clash to cap PBA's Saturday night action at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Although this time, the gap was only 31 points.
Paul Lee was his usual lethal self, pacing the Hotshots with 22 points, and leading his squad with their biggest run of 14 markers upend the Fuel Masters early in the second half.
"We're so frustrated at the first half eh. Because when Matthew Wright, nung naging hot na siya, parang nafufrsutrate kami and parang naapektuhan yung depensa namin. I think 'yun 'yung factor dun. Medyo yung ball movement namin sa offense, yung aming depensa affected," said Star head coach Chito Victolero.
"At halftime, I talked to them, di palaging tambak eh. We have to start on defense, and focus on the little things. Kasi medyo 'yung little things yung nakakalimutan namin eh," he added.
"Sabi ko nga sa kanila, we need to be aggressive. We need to have that desire, lalo na nung second half, the desire to win, that's very important--the little things," Victolero shared.
By the second half, the Hotshots came out with guns blazing, leading by as many as 37 points.
All but Peter June Simon -- who did not play in the game due to flu -- scored for Star.
The Hotshots also dealt the Fuel Masters their biggest loss of the season, blowing them out by 44 points.
As if the feat wasn't impressive enough, PBA's chief statistician Fidel Mangonon III said Star has been whipping their last four foes by 29.4 points.
The Hotshot's biggest exploit of the elimination round came at the expense of Meralco, where the Bolts were decimated by 47 points.
Star will try to sweep the Phoenix on Monday as the series shifts to the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Earlier, the TNT KaTropa drew first blood in their skirmish with GlobalPort Batang Pier.
The scores:
STAR 114 - Lee 22, Sangalang 17, Melton 12, Maliksi 11, Pingris 10, Ramos 9, Jalalon 9, Reavis 7, Javier 4, Barroca 4, Dela Rosa 3, De Leon 2, Abundo 2, Brondial 2.
PHOENIX 83 - Wright 19, Baguio 12, Dehesa 10, Intal 9, Kramer 9, Borboran 7, Alolino 8, Caperal 3, Enciso 2, Torres 2, W. Wilson 2, Hayes 0, Lanete 0.
Quarterscores: 22-15, 45-52, 82-64, 114-83
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