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A Star side that is playing as the sharpest, most unforgiving side in the PBA Philippine Cup brushed aside the challenge of Phoenix Petroleum on Monday night and will come into the Final Four flaunting the form that could make its would-be opponent shake in its boots.
Relentless on both ends, the Hotshots led from start to finish and bamboozled the Fuel Masters for the second straight time, 91-71, at Smart Araneta Coliseum, giving Star a sweep of their best-of-three series and making this team the favorite whichever foe it draws in the semifinals.
“Our chemistry is improving,” Star coach Chito Victolero said after their latest convincing win, their fifth straight dating back to the elimination round. “I am very thankful to the players because they have adapted to the system.”
Talk ‘N Text also advanced to the semifinals after sweeping GlobalPort, 95-90, in the other match.
Ranidel de Ocampo dropped 25 points, while Kelly Williams and Jason Castro also came through the stretch.
The Texters will go up against top-ranked San Miguel in the semifinals starting Wednesday.
Paul Lee scattered 17 points that went with nine assists, and Marc Pingris was offensive minded with 16 as the duo presided over a 15-1 third quarter run that had the Hotshots peeling away for good, 57-38.
Coming into this game, Star had won its last four outings by an average of 30 points.
Alaska and Ginebra will battle it out in a KO match for the right to clash with Star at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Big Dome.