MANILA – Marqus Blakely haunted his former team Magnolia Hotshots by powering Blackwater Elite to a 95-89 win in the 2019 PBA Governors’ Cup last night at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
Blakely, who played and won championships with the Hotshots’ franchise, paced the Elite with double-double 21 points and 13 rebounds.
Blackwater notched its second win in
five games.
Rey Mark Belo added 20 markers while Michael Digregorio and Rabeh Al-Hussaini
chipped in 15 and 12 markers, respectively.
The Elite survived a five-point showing of rookie Bobby Ray Parks Jr.
Blakely made his presence felt for the Elite as early as the opening half. He led the squad to a 47-40 halftime score with the Hotshots playing minus injured reinforcement Romeo Travis.
Blackwater went up by as much as 10 points in the second half but the Hotshots did not easily give up; it came to within 87-90 but free throws by Blakely and Parks restored order for the Elite.
Paul Lee top-scored with 26 points, including six three-point conversions, while Ian Sangalang, Rome dela Rosa and Aldrech Ramos added 12, 11 and 10 markers, respectively, as the Hotshots dropped to 3-3.
Meanwhile, NLEX Road Warriors nearly wasted a double-digit edge before escaping with a 117-111 victory over the Columbian Dyip to register its fifth victory in six matches.
After seeing their 17 point edge turned to a 106-all score, JR Quinahan drained three free throws, while import Manny Harris scored inside as the Road Warriors surged to a 111-106 count.
The Dyip made its last push on a layup by Jaymar Perez but free throws by Ilonggo Kiefer Ravena and Harris and defensive stops on the other end sealed the victory for the Road Warriors.
Harris made his Road Warriors debut with 45 points, four steals and three blocks, while Quinahan and Ravena chipped in 15 and 11 markers, respectively, for the Road Warriors. Dyip dropped to 3-3./PN
