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By ADRIAN STEWART CO
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Tuesday, February 7, 2017
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Star Hotshots rookie Jio Jalalon (6) blazes past Simon Enciso (0) of the Phoenix Fuel Masters during their 2016-2017 Oppo PBA Philippine Cup clash on Monday.PBA
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MANILA – The Star Hotshots leaned on the surging shooting of Paul Lee to advance to 2016-2017 Oppo PBA Philippine Cup semifinals with a 91-71 win over the Phoenix Fuel Masters in Game 2 of best-of-three quarterfinals on Monday at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
Holding on to a slim 42-35 lead at halftime, Lee ignited a huge scoring run by the Hotshots in the third frame with back-to-back triples to build a 60-41 advantage on conversions by Jean Marc Pingris and Aldrech Ramos.
The Fuel Masters made a run early in the fourth period to come to within 13 points but another scoring surge by the Hotshots gave them the largest lead at 82-56 on baskets by Mon Abundo and Rodney Brondial.
Lee finished with 17 points, nine assists and four rebounds to lead the way for the Hotshots, which advanced to the semifinals after sweeping the Fuel Masters in the series.
Pingris chipped in 16 markers and nine rebounds, while Jio Jalalon and Ian Sangalang contributed 11 markers apiece for the Hotshots, which will face the winner of the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings and Alaska Aces matchup.
Rookie Matthew Wright top-scored with 24 points, while Simon Enciso and JC Intal added 12 and 10 points, respectively, for the Fuel Masters, which failed to reach the semifinals for the second straight conference.
The Kings and Aces, meanwhile, will dispute the remaining seat in the best-of-seven semifinals when they faceoff at seven in the evening tonight at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
The Kings kept its back-to-back title hopes alive after beating the Aces, 85-81, in their first quarterfinals encounter on Sunday night at Ynares Center in Antipolo City. LA Tenorio led the way with 17 points for the Kings.
The Aces needs only to win once to return to the All-Filipino Conference semifinals by virtue of its twice-to-beat advantage for finishing the elimination round at second place in the standings./PN
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