Star held off Blackwater, 87-82, to clinch the fifth spot in the 2015 PBA Governors’ Cup Tuesday night at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Import Marqus Blakely was all over the floor and finished with 22 points, 16 rebounds, five assists, seven steals and four blocks to lead the Hotshots, who arranged a quarterfinals duel with the Globalport Batang Pier.
“After Globalport won, we didn’t have much energy. We started off flat and they were able to do what they wanted to do,” said Star head coach Tim Cone.
The Batang Pier escaped the Alaska Aces, 117-104, in overtime earlier to secure the fourth seed and the last twice-to-beat advantage.
“They got two guards that are really, really good and they also have a 7-footer. We just have to win on Friday,” Cone said of Globalport, which beat Star in the elimination round.
Marcus Cousin paced the Elite, who will finish their first season in the league with the worst record overall and in each of the three conferences, with 21 points and 13 rebounds.
Blackwater, which wound up with a 1-10 mark, led by as much as 11 in the in the second quarter before Star came out with more energy and intensity in the second half that got the ball rolling. Joe Devance and PJ Simon scored seven points apiece in the third quarter where the Hotshots grabbed the momentum.
The Elite, though, kept it close but just couldn’t make key possessions count with the Hotshots’ experience coming into play. CFC