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By ADRIAN STEWART CO
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Saturday, February 18, 2017
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Star Hotshotsâ Rodney Brondial (center) goes for a layup against the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings in Game 5 of their 2016-2017 Oppo PBA Philippine Cup best-of-seven semifinals series on Friday.PBA
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MANILA – The Star Hotshots moved a step closer to a finals return with an 89-80 victory over the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings in Game 5 of their 2016-2017 Oppo PBA Philippine Cup best-of-seven semifinals series on Friday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Rafael “Rafi” Reavis led the way with double-double 17 points and 13 rebounds for the Hotshots, which can barge into the All-Filipino Conference finale for the first time since 2013 with a win over the Kings on Sunday.
Mark Andy Barroca added 12 markers, while Allein Maliksi and Paul Lee contributed 10 points apiece for the Hotshots, which bounced back from defeats in Games 3 and 4 to take a 3-2 lead in the race-to-four series.
Trailing early in the game, the Hotshots gained control of the game in the second frame behind hits by Rodney Brondial and Reavis for a 37-34 lead. It grew to 49-43 late in the period before the Kings cut it to four heading into the halftime break.
After the Kings cut the deficit to three early in the third canto, the Hotshots suddenly pulled away on baskets by Maliksi, Reavis and Jean Marc Pingris to build its largest lead at 72-55 on free throws by Peter June Simon.
The Hotshots maintained the double-digit lead in the final quarter with baskets from Justin Melton, Pingris and Lee but the Kings made a run to come to within 10 on hits by Mark Caguioa and Anthony Helterbrand.
The Kings even pulled to within seven points at 87-80 after another triple by Helterbrand, but they failed to capitalize on Hotshots’ miscues late in the game before the latter sealed the win with free throws by Lee.
“Ang sabi ko sa players ko kalimutan na namin ‘yung Games 3 and 4 at focus kami sa Game 5 and I am glad with the result,” said Hotshots head coch Chito Victolero.”Yung positive attitude namin, the way we enjoyed the game, sana ganon pa rin sa Sunday.”
Japeth Aguilar top-scored with 13 points, all in the first half, while SolMercado, Chris Ellis and Caguioa had nine points each for the Kings, which is eyeing its second straight finals appearance./PN
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