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The Star Hotshots gave rookie coach Jason Webb his first win while making their former coach pay for changing sides.
Abandoning the triangle and playing at a faster pace, the Hotshots hit the ground running to demolish the Barangay Ginebra Kings, 86-78, before 16,576 paying fans at Smart Araneta Coliseum Sunday night.
James Yap scored 16 of his 19 points in the first half and joined forces with Mark Barroca, Justin Melton, Ronald Pascual and rookie Norbert Torres that resulted in a 44-13 lead early in the second quarter.
“I have high respect for coach Tim (Cone) but at the end of each game, somebody has to lose,’’ said Webb after the Hotshots won their first game after losing the opener against Rain or Shine.
“But I don’t think my players would have wanted to be them.”
The Kings showed signs of life late in the game with rookie Scottie Thompson and Japeth Aguilar doing most of the heavy lifting but the Hotshots always had an answer.
Cone led the Hotshots to five titles in four seasons, including a rare grand slam two year ago, before jumping ship to the Kings prior to the season.
The Scores:
STAR 86 – Yap 19, Barroca 12, Simon 12, Torres 8, Melton 7, Mallari 6, Pascual 6, Pingris 6, Sangalang 5, Maliksi 3, Reavis 2, Pascual 0, Taha 0.
GINEBRA 78 – Slaughter 28, Aguilar 26, Ellis 5, Salva 5, Thompson 5, Caguioa 4, Brondial 2, Mariano 2, Devance 1, Helterbrand 0, Mercado 0, Tenorio 0.
Quarters: 37-13, 58-38, 71-52, 86-78.