Hotshots on fire

PBA IMAGES

Tony Mitchell scored 22 points, grabbed 17 rebounds and had two blocks to lead rock-solid Star past GlobalPort, 103-77, on Saturday night for a 2-0 start in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup eliminations at Mindanao Civic Center in Tubod, Lanao del Norte.

Rookie Jio Jalalon and the veteran Peter June Simon came off the bench to combine for 25 points and the Hotshots didn’t have much of a problem in disposing of the Batang Pier in the Petron Saturday Special game.

It was the second straight defeat for GlobalPort which still played inconsistently despite welcoming back Terrence Romeo, the leading scorer in the Philippine Cup. Romeo scored 13 points, had seven rebounds and eight assists in 35 minutes.

Star started out slow and trailed after the first quarter. But once the Hotshots got going there was no stopping them as they joined idle Alaska and defending champion Rain or Shine in second spot, just a win behind the league-leading Meralco Bolts.

Meanwhile, the Elasto Painters are tipped as the solid picks to win a third straight game when they clash with the depleted Blackwater Elite in the 4:30 p.m. contest on Sunday at Ynares Center in Antipolo.

With Shawn Taggart giving them a reliable presence underneath, the Painters look formidable as they try to successfully defend a title for the first time in franchise history.

Blackwater, which will be without the injured sophomore big guard Art dela Cruz for the rest of the conference, is reeling from two straight defeats and would need to get a lot out of Greg Smith and rookie Mac Belo to try to thwart the Painters.

In the 6:45 p.m. game, title contender TNT KaTropa and Phoenix Petroleum slug it out with the Texters trying to bounce back from a conference-opening loss two nights ago.

Lou Amundson, the NBA veteran who is playing a pinch-hitter’s role for the Texters, will suit up for possibly his last game before relinquishing his spot to Donte Greene.

The Fuel Masters are set to welcome back prized rookie Matthew Wright ahead of schedule. Wright had surgery to remove bone spurs in his foot. —MUSONG R. CASTILLO