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Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Star gains momentum with victory over NLEX

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STAR gained some much-needed momentum heading to the quarterfinals and kept its hopes of ending in the Top 4 alive after turning back NLEX, 101-93, in a pivotal game in the last playdate of the elimination round of the 2017 Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup.

Needing a win to stay in the hunt for a Top 4 finish and a twice-to-beat incentive in the next round, the Hotshots stepped their game up in the final game of the eliminations.

Another tremendous second half surge and solid play from its backcourt once again propelled Star to this needed victory.

Peter June Simon led the team with a game-high 16 points, while Paul Lee had 15 markers and Mark Barroca added 13 more markers as their trio, along with import Kristofer Acox, who had 14 points, led the way for the Hotshots.

As a result, the Hotshots finished at 7-4, tied with NLEX, but Star still has a shot at making the Top 4, while the loss put the Road Warriors out of the equation in the upper half.

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Star is hoping that Meralco beats San Miguel Beer in the final elimination round game to be able to sneak into the Top 4.

As of this report, the Bolts (8-2) and the Beermen (7-3) are fighting tooth and nail to have the best possible placing.

Meralco, San Miguel, Barangay Ginebra (8-3), TNT KaTropa (8-3) and Star (7-4) are the five teams contending for a Top 4 finish and a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarters.

Everything will depend on the result of the game between Meralco and San Miguel as that will determine, which among those five teams will place in the Top 4.

Star ended the third period with a key 10-2 run to grab a critical 75-69 advantage into the fourth quarter.

The Hotshots won the third, 39-25, and turned things around after trailing 36-44 at the half.

They then didn’t look back and finished the job in the payoff period, not giving the Road Warriors a chance to threaten once they took over.

The scores:

STAR 101 – Simon 16, Lee 15, Acox 14, Ramos 14, Barroca 13, Dela Rosa 8, Melton 6, Pingris 6, Sangalang 4, Jalalon 3, Brondial 2, Reavis 0.

NLEX 93 – Fuller 16, Mallari 13, Fonacier 12, Alas 9, Al-Hussaini 9, Quinahan 9, Lastimosa 8, Taulava 5, Tiongson 5, J. Villanueva 3, Soyud 3, Baguio 1, Rios 0.

Quarters: 17-25, 36-44, 72-69, 101-93.

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