Rising Star readies for crucial test with dominating rout of Phoenix

Star vs Phoenix. PBA IMAGES

Incapable of doing anything wrong, Star last night made Phoenix Petroleum an unpleasant sight to see, scoring the ugliest rout in the PBA Philippine Cup, a 123-79 ripping of the Fuel Masters at Mall of Asia Arena.

But “the real test will be in our next two games—Rain or Shine and [Barangay] Ginebra,” Star coach Chito Victolero said after logging a second straight win and praising his charges for trying to build on their goal of becoming “one of the top defensive teams in the league.”

“We knew that they are a high-scoring team,” Victolero said after holding the Fuel Masters to just 38 points at the half. “We talked about slowing them down. The players were just committed defensively.”

Looking like the team that surrendered 20 straight points in the fourth quarter to lowly Mahindra last week, the Fuel Masters trailed by as large as 53—the biggest deficit of the young season—and slumped to a 2-2 card in a tie with Star.

Six players scored in twin digits for Star with Paul Lee and Allein Maliksi hitting 18 each.

It was the second straight good game for the 6-foot Lee, whose next game will be against his former team, Rain or Shine, as he and James Yap, the former two-time MVP whom he was traded for, collide for the first time on Dec. 18.

The scores

STAR 123—Lee 18, Maliksi 18, Simon 15, Melton 11, Jalalon 11, Barroca 11, Pingris 8, Brondial 8, Ramos 7, Reavis 7, Sangalang 4, Abundo 4, Javier 1, De Leon 0.

PHOENIX 79—Enciso 16, Intal 13, W. Wilson 13, Wright 12, Caperal 8, Borboran 5, Lanete 4, Torres 4, Baguio 2, Hayes 2, Alolino 0, J. Wilson 0, Miranda 0.

Quarters: 35-20, 61-38, 91-53, 123-79