DIFFERENT script, same ending.
Star is through to the semifinals after pulling away in the clutch to eliminate and sweep Rain or Shine, 2-0, with an 84-69 triumph in Game 2 of their best-of-three quarterfinal series at the Smart Araneta Coliseum yesterday.
Once again his usual dominant self, Ricardo Ratliffe powered his way to a monster 20-20 game with game-highs 26 points and 24 rebounds to lead his Hotshots to the next round.
They will now face powerhouse San Miguel Beer in an exciting best-of-five clash in the semis with both teams playing exceptional basketball.
The Hotshots ended the game with an astonishing 21-6 blast to turn a tight game into a runaway heist in the waning minutes.
Unlike Game 1 where Star dominated from start to finish, Game 2 took a different path as the teams were neck-to-neck all the way to the fourth quarter.
The game was up for grabs in the payoff period as the Hotshots and the Elasto Painters were tied at 63 with exactly eight minutes remaining.
Obviously, it was Star which came to the occasion to take the game emphatically in crunch time.
Paul Lee scored 13 more markers for Star, while Mark Barroca added 12.
Rain or Shine had a difficulty finding its offense with only Duke Crews managing to end up in twin-digits, scoring only 12 points for the Painters.
In the other quarters’ series, TNT KaTropa, ahead 1-0, is currently trying to finish off Meralco with the two teams figuring in a heated Game 2 as of this report.
The victor of this series will face top seed Barangay Ginebra in the next round.
The scores:
STAR 84—Ratliffe 26, Lee 13, Barroca 12, Simon 9, Sangalang 8, Jalalon 8, Reavis 4, Ramos 2, Maliksi 2, Melton 0.
RAIN OR SHINE 69— Crews 12, Chan 9, Tiu 9, Belga 7, Washington 7, Norwood 6, Ahanmisi 6, Cruz 4, Ponferada 4, Yap 3, Almazan 2.
Quarterscores: 16-19, 33-37, 55-52, 84-69.