Hotshots outgun Bolts; NLEX ends skid
Ricardo Ratliffe outclassed Alex Stepheson with consummate ease, and the rest of the Star Hotshots beat the Meralco Bolts black and blue in the fourth quarter en route to a 108-90 win that sent the team closer to a Top Two finish in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup eliminations last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Ratliffe turned in another solid double-double game with 32 points and 13 rebounds and anchored their decisive runs in the second and fourth quarters as they outgunned the Bolts in their showdown for the solo lead heading to their last game in the elims play.
Star opened an 18-point spread in the second period and just as the Bolts came to within six, the Hotshots made a bigger run at the start of the fourth to pull off an emphatic win.
The Hotshots grabbed the solo lead at 8-2 while the Bolts dropped to joint second with the TNT KaTropa Texters at 7-3.
“We have a good chance to make the Top Two but we still have to keep on winning. We need to have a good preparation against Alaska Milk (in our last game in the elims),” said Star coach Chito Victolero.
“I’m thankful to Ricardo Ratliffe. We really need his inside presence especially as we’re missing Marc Pingris,” Victolero also said.
Ratliffe proved to be the main cog with his superb job against Stepheson whom he held to conference-lows of nine points and nine rebounds.
Ratliffe himself drew Stepheson’s sixth and last foul with over six minutes left to play.
In the first game, NLEX Milk, 100-92.
Though long out of the playoff race, the Road Warriors, getting smarter with their new trade recruits, also bucked the loss of import Wayne Chism on fouls with over five minutes left to play to complete a breakthrough triumph.
“We wanted to exit with some pride. This is the best way to do it,” said NLEX coach Yeng Guiao as they finally pulled off a win in its penultimate game in the midseason tourney.
“Winning the game without an import in the last five minutes showed there’s a new resolve in our team. They want to prove themselves. They want to show we’re improving. We’re struggling, but we’re learning our lessons and we’ll bring them in the next conference,” Guiao also said, adding they’re not yet done in retooling their lineup.
New recruits JR Quiñahan, Rabeh Al-Hussaini and Alex Mallari all played key roles as they helped NLEX nail a first win in four months and foil Alaska’s attempt at checking its own slump.
NOTES: The PBA board convenes in a regular monthly meeting today. The concern of Gilas Pilipinas, however, will not be discussed with SBP president and Meralco representative Al Panlilio out of the country. Panlilio has said he’ll request for a special board meeting to discuss their memorandum of agreement with the PBA with regards the national team. The scores: First Game NLEX 100 – Chism 22, Tiongson 16, Quiñahan 16, Alas 11, Al-Hussaini 9, Mallari 7, Monfort 6, Soyud 5, Rios 4, Lastimosa 2, Baracael 2, Ighalo 0, Taulava 0.
ALASKA 92 – Jefferson 36, Manuel 17, Abueva 12, Casio 10, Racal 5, Banchero 3, Thoss 2, Enciso 2, Exciminiano 2, Mendoza 2, Pascual 1, Cruz 0, Galliguez 0, Hontiveros 0.
Quarterscores: 18-35, 51-48, 76-75, 100-92. Second Game STAR 108 – Ratliffe 32, Lee 16, Barroca 12, Maliksi 11, Jalalon 10, Sangalang 8, Simon 7, Brondial 3, Reavis 3, Abundo 2, Melton 2, Ramos 2, Dela Rosa 0, Javier 0.
MERALCO 90 – Newsome 25, Nabong 17, Dillinger 15, Stepheson 9, Caram 9, Hodge 5, Amer 4, Chua 2, Daquioag 2, Hugnatan 2, Lanete 0, Uyloan 0, Faundo 0.
Quarterscores: 27-15, 54-45, 81-75, 108-90.