STAR gave up a lot to acquire RR Garcia in the off-season.
Three games into the PBA Governors’ Cup eliminations, with the Hotshots in dire need of a shot in the arm, he showed everyone why.
The 5-foot-10 guard scored eight points in overtime and keyed a 105-102 victory over GlobalPort at Smart Araneta Coliseum last night, as the Hotshots finally broke through in the season-ending conference while keeping the Batang Pier winless.
Acquired from Phoenix in exchange for three players, Garcia showcased his vast potential for Star, finishing with 26 points and engaging former college teammate Terrence Romeo in a frenzied shootout.
It was just the first win in three starts for the Hotshots, who fell to foes of lesser stature in the first two weeks of the conference before holding it together against the shoot-the-lights-out Batang Pier.
Alaska also went into overtime before pulling off a 109-100 victory over Barangay Ginebra in the nightcap.
The Aces, who finally broke the Gin Kings’ collective back with three triples in extra time, tied their victims at 1-1 and put to naught the slid debut of Ginebra import Justin Brownlee.
Romeo paced the Batang Pier with 27 points like import Michael Glover but was effectively taken out of the offensive flow in the fourth period and in overtime.
The Gilas Pilipinas revelation lost a grip on the ball while going for a three-pointer as time expired in regulation and the score frozen at 92-all.
Peter June Simon made overtime happen when he knocked down a triple off the outstretched hands of Stanley Pringle.
GlobalPort had seven seconds left in overtime to forge a second extension, but Romeo held on to the ball too long before giving it up to Joseph Yeo, who had little time left to manufacture a decent attempt.
STAR stalwart Marc Pingris puts up a shot off GlobalPort forward Yousef Taha in last night’s thriller at Smart Araneta Coliseum. AUGUST DELA CRUZ
“It was fun seeing him (Garcia) and Terrence going at it,” Star coach Jason Webb told reporters. “It (shootout) looked good.”
The scores:
First Game
STAR 105—Garcia 26, Blakely 24, Simon 15, Barroca 11, Pingris 8, Maliksi 7, Sangalang 6, Mallari 4, Pascual 2, Reavis 2, Yap 0.
GLOBALPORT 102—Glover 27, Romeo 27, Pringle 20, Yeo 11, Taha 10, Semerad 3, Dehesa 2, Kramer 2, Mamaril 0.
Quarters: 19-22, 42-44, 71-71, 92-92 (reg.), 105-102 (OT)
Second Game
ALASKA 109—Henton 29, Banchero 19, Jazul 14, Abueva 12, Casio 7, Manuel 6, Thoss 6, Hontiveros 5, Menk 5, Racal 3, Baclao 2, Exciminiano 1, Magat 0.
GINEBRA 100—Brownlee 31, Mercado 22, Tenorio 13, Aguilar 9, Ellis 8, Caguioa 4, Cruz 4, Mariano 4, Thompson 3, Devance 1, Marcelo 1, Bonifacio 0, Helterbrand 0.
Quarters: 33-25, 53-46, 76-70, 94-94 (reg.), 109-100 (OT)