Hotshots crush Energy, eye Top 2

MANILA, Philippines - Reigning champion Purefoods Star, riding the momentum of back-to-back overtime triumphs over San Miguel Beer and Talk n Text, rolled past Barako Bull, 103-96, to boost its bid for a Top Two finish in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last night.

Denzel Bowles delivered a personal conference high of 37 points, including 21 in presiding over Purefoods Star’s decisive attack in the third quarter en route to the win that guaranteed the Hotshots of at least a fifth-place windup in the elims.

“Top Six is our goal; Top Two will be a bonus,” said Purefoods coach Tim Cone.

“Our last game against Meralco will be a big one. But even if we win, we’re still not sure of the Top Two. If we figure in a three-way tie with Talk n Text and Rain or Shine, we’ll lose in a quotient with those teams. We still need help from the other teams for us to get to Top two,” Cone also said.

But in beating Barako Bull, the Hotshots (7-3) assured themselves of at least a spot in the best-of-three quarterfinals.

Barako Bull, meanwhile, dropped out of the Top Eight as it reeled with a fourth straight loss and sixth in their last seven games after a strong 3-0 start in the mid-season tourney.

The Energy need to win their last game against the NLEX Road Warriors Tuesday to get a shot at the playoffs.

Two equally important games are up tonight at the Big Dome with NLEX and Kia clashing at 4:15 p.m. then Talk n Text and San Miguel Beer facing off at 7 p.m.

The Texters press their bid for the Top Two while the Beermen fight for survival in the grudge match between team that slugged it out in the Philippine Cup semifinals.

On top of his 34 points, Bowles came up with 17 rebounds while Joe Devance put in his own double-double game with 15 markers and 10 boards as the Hotshots sustained their climb back to the top after losing three straight games against Rain or Shine, Kia and Barangay Ginebra.

Alaska Milk old reliables Sonny Thoss and Dondon Hontiveros took over on the exit of Damion James on fouls as the Aces beat out the Meralco Bolts, 108-103, on a double-overtime grind and moved up to joint sixth place with a 4-5 slate later in the night.

The Aces failed to close it out in regulation and in the first overtime, but kept on battling and went on to nail the crucial win that forced a four-way logjam at sixth among Alaska, Barangay Ginebra, Globalport and Kia.

With the loss, Meralco moved down to joint second with Talk n Text and Rain or Shine at 6-3.