The Purefoods Star Hotshots are now in the win column after successfully fighting back from 18 points down to beat the GlobalPort Batang Pier, 81-75, in the main event of the PBA Philippine Cup Halloween offering at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
The Hotshots trailed, 24-42, early in the third quarter.
But Mark Barroca spearheaded a 27-11 rally in the rest of the quarter to cut the lead to two, 53-51, with 12 minutes left.
The Batang Pier looked to rebuild the huge lead early in the fourth after stretching the lead to five, 58-53.
But six straight Purefoods points finally put the team in the lead, 59-58.
An exchange of baskets later on put the game at a 62-all deadlock.
GlobalPort then unleashed an 8-1 run behind Alex Cabagnot's hot shooting to take a 70-63 lead with 3:44 remaining.
But a 12-0 run by the Hotshots put them back ahead, 75-70, with 42.8 seconds to go.
Mark Isip kept GlobalPort in the game after launching a corner three at the other end to cut the lead to two, 75-73.
But Isip quickly fouled Barroca in the ensuing possession and Barroca hit his charities for Purefoods to go up, 77-73, with 21.4 seconds left.
Stanley Pringle hit a follow-up to a missed triple to cut the lead to two anew.
Barroca made two more gift shots, and Cabagnot missed a wild three-point attempt on the other end.
Barroca sealed the win after converting an alley-oop at the buzzer.
Barroca led the Hotshots, who won for the first time after opening the conference 0-2, with 25 points and six rebounds.
Marc Pingris made his season debut and added nine markers.
Pringle scored 20 points for the Batang Pier, who are now 0-8 all-time against the Hotshots.
Box Scores:
Purefoods 81-Barroca 25, Maliksi 20, Simon 12, Devance 10, Pingris 9, Taha 3, Melton 2, Reavis 0, Holstein 0, Mallari 0, Gaco 0, Allado 0, Matias 0
GlobalPort 75-Pringle 20, Isip 17, Cabagnot 12, Jensen 7, Romeo 5, Nabong 5, Buenafe 3, Taha 2, Ponferada 2, De Ocampo 2, Semerad 0, Duncil 0, Baclao75
Quarterscores: 15-26, 24-50, 51-53, 81-75
Pringle scored 20 points for the Batang Pier, who are now 0-8 all-time against the Hotshots.
Box Scores:
Purefoods 81-Barroca 25, Maliksi 20, Simon 12, Devance 10, Pingris 9, Taha 3, Melton 2, Reavis 0, Holstein 0, Mallari 0, Gaco 0, Allado 0, Matias 0
GlobalPort 75-Pringle 20, Isip 17, Cabagnot 12, Jensen 7, Romeo 5, Nabong 5, Buenafe 3, Taha 2, Ponferada 2, De Ocampo 2, Semerad 0, Duncil 0, Baclao75
Quarterscores: 15-26, 24-50, 51-53, 81-75
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