With Cinmeon Bowers still adjusting to their system, the Hotshtos’ locals took over as they took advantage of Trevis Simpson suffering an injury early in the payoff period when it was still a nip-and-tuck battle.
PJ Simon flashed his vintage form as he registered 20 points in just 16 minutes off the bench, while Allein Maliksi added 15 points and three boards for the Hotshots, who handed the Elite their second straight defeat.
That’s when the Hotshots broke away as they went on a 26-5 run to put up their biggest lead at 21, 101-80 following a Mark Barroca basket with two minutes and 30 seconds left.
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The result put to naught the solid showing of Poy Erram, who registered 11 points, 15 boards, and seven blocks in just his third game back after being out with a knee injury.
The Final Boxscore Result:
Star 103 – Simon 20, Maliksi 15, Bowers 15, Sangalang 14, Reavis 11, Lee 7, Ramos 7, Barroca 6, Dela Rosa 6, Mendoza 2, Melton 0, Javier 0, Brondial 0, Abundo 0
Blackwater 86 – Simpson 24, Erram 11, Digregorio 11, Cruz 10, Banal 8, Cervantes 5, Sumang 4, Buenafe 3, Sena 2, Canaleta 2, Pinto 2, Gamalinda 2, Aguilar 2, Pascual 0
Quarterscores: 28-22; 49-40; 75-68; 103-86.