Star Hotshots and TNT KaTropa seek to pad PBA campaigns

Star Hotshots and TNT KaTropa seek to pad PBA campaigns

Star Hotshots and TNT KaTropa seek to pad PBA campaigns
PBA

Star Hotshots and TNT KaTropa seek to pad PBA campaigns

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RIGHT smack in the top half of the standings of the ongoing Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner’s Cup, the Star Hotshots and TNT KaTropa seek to pad their campaigns as the elimination round hits the closing stretch, taking on each other in the main game today.

Currently joint fourth with a 6-2 record, the Hotshots and KaTropa battle at 7 p.m. at the Mall of Asia Arena looking to stay within striking distance of a possible top-two finish in the classification phase of the mid-season PBA tournament and earn the twice-to-beat advantage that goes with it in the quarterfinals.

Star is currently riding a two-game winning streak after their dropping its two matches previously.

The latest of the Hotshots’ victory came at the expense of the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, 99-93, in an out-of-town game in Batangas on May 6.

Tony Mitchell has been taking charge for Star with numbers of 21.3 points, 14.4 rebounds and 2.9 blocks in 36 minutes on the floor.

Allein Maliksi has been good for 13.3 points and three rebounds while rookie guard Jio Jalalon has been chipping in 11.6 points, five rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.1 steals a game.

The two, however, are temporarily out of the Star lineup as they are both preparing as members of the Gilas Pilipinas team that will see action at the Southeast Asian Basketball (SEABA) Championship beginning later this week.

Paul Lee is the other Star player averaging in double-digits scoring with 10.8 points to go along with 4.4 rebounds and 4.1 assists.

The KaTropa, for their part, are coming in the contest on a high as well after toppling erstwhile league-leaders San Miguel Beermen on top of the perch in their last game, 112-103.

In said game, TNT used a strong start to get the better of the Beermen which trailed for much of the game.

Import Donte Greene had a team-high 41 points on top of 21 rebounds, four rebounds and two blocks.

Kelly Williams had 15 points and six rebounds, Larry Fonacier finished with 14 and new acquisition RR Garcia had 12 points.

Incidentally, the game could well be the last for Mr. Fonacier in a TNT uniform after being part of a four-team, multi-player trade recently involving TNT, Meralco, NLEX and GlobalPort that had the player winding up with NLEX.

In return, the KaTropa received Anthony Semerad (GlobalPort) and a first-round draft pick this year.

After beating San Miguel, who was sans league most valuable player June Mar Fajardo who is with Gilas, TNT coach Nash Racela paid tribute to his players, particularly reinforcement Greene.

“The contribution of Donte was phenomenal tonight. He played with a lot of spirit and was very active. We were also fortunate that June Mar was not around and that gave us a chance. It was also nice that while we lost three players to the Gilas program, other guys stepped up and contributed,” said Mr. Racela, whose team played without Gilas players Jayson Castro, Troy Rosario and RR Pogoy.

Meanwhile, league-leading Meralco Bolts (7-1) face off with GlobalPort Batang Pier (2-6) in the opener at 4:15 p.m.

Meralco will be led by import Alex Stepheson and reigning player of the week Baser Amer and will also parade newly acquired player Garvo Lanete while Global Port will have a new-look lineup that now includes Bradwyn Guinto, Jonathan Grey and Sean Anthony.

After today’s league fixtures, the PBA takes another weeklong break to give way to the SEABA Championship that is taking place from May 12 to 18 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.