QUEZON CITY—GlobalPort holds a twice-to-beat advantage in the PBA Governors' Cup quarterfinals.
But on Friday night, Star played like it has the playoff incentive.
The Hotshots broke away late in the opening period and bludgeoned the Batang Pier, 126-73, to start the playoffs of the season-ending conference at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Leading from the start, Star turned a close match to a laugher in the dying moments of the first quarter, opening a 17-2 run to finish the period with a 37-18 advantage, something the club eventually stretched to as high as 57 points later in the match.
Marqus Blakely led the fifth-seeded Hotshots, who forced a knockout game on Sunday, with 23 points while succeeding in limiting Jarrid Famous to only 16.
Terrence Romeo had 18 markers for the fourth-ranked Batang Pier.
Box Scores:
Marqus Blakely led the fifth-seeded Hotshots, who forced a knockout game on Sunday, with 23 points while succeeding in limiting Jarrid Famous to only 16.
Terrence Romeo had 18 markers for the fourth-ranked Batang Pier.
Box Scores:
Star 126-Blakely 23, Barroca 16, Mallari 15, Yap 15, Melton 14, Taha 8, Simon 8, Maliksi 7, Devance 6, Alvarez 3, Gaco 3, Pingris 3, Pennisi 3, Allado 2, Reavis 0
Globalport 73-Romeo 18, Famous 16, Caperal 8, Semerad 5, Miranda 5, Krayem 4, Pringle 4, Isip 4, Pinto 2, Hayes 2, Jensen 2, Mamaril 2, Buenafe 1, Taha 0, Kramer 0, Ponferrada 0
Quarterscores: 37-18, 73-35, 103-54, 126-73
Globalport 73-Romeo 18, Famous 16, Caperal 8, Semerad 5, Miranda 5, Krayem 4, Pringle 4, Isip 4, Pinto 2, Hayes 2, Jensen 2, Mamaril 2, Buenafe 1, Taha 0, Kramer 0, Ponferrada 0
Quarterscores: 37-18, 73-35, 103-54, 126-73
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