MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – Denzel Bowles came up with 28 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists and two blocks as the Star Hotshots blasted the Blackwater Elite, 122-103, to finally arrest a nightmare 3-game skid to start the 2016 PBA Commissioner's Cup on Wednesday, February 24 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Hotshots, who suffered tough defeats at the hands of Meralco, Rain or Shine, and NLEX, broke through the win column for the first time this conference but are still toiling near the bottom of the standings with a 1-3 slate.
"Finally. It took a while," said head coach Jason Webb. "The team really played well. The ball movement was really good. Everything was clicking today. Local support and then Denzel at the right time. Everything was great timing today."
It was a balanced effort indeed for Star as they registered 30 assists and dropped 12-of-20 3-pointers.
Allein Maliksi uncorked 15 points in the fourth quarter to finish with 23 overall including 5 rebounds off the bench, as the Hotshots built their biggest lead at 109-81 early in the final frame.
James Yap, who started the game for a change as an adjustment, tallied 15 points and 3-of-4 makes from downtown. Mark Barroca had 10 points and 4 assists while PJ Simon added 10 markers and 5 boards.
"It was very frustrating for us to start the year because I thought we had a very good pre-season," Webb admitted. "We're relieved that we finally got one. The league is tough."
Import MJ Rhett posted 30 points, 21 rebounds and 6 assists for Blackwater, which failed to win 3 straight and fell to 2-2.
Carlo Lastimosa was 9-of-20 from the field for 20 points while JP Erram and Reil Cervantes had 13 and 10 points, respectively.
Scores:
Star (122): Bowles 28, Maliksi 23, Yap 15, Barroca 10, Simon 10, Melton 8, sangalang 8, Pascual 7, Pingris 7, Cruz 4, Torres 2.
Blackwater (103): Rhett 30, Lastimosa 20, Erram 13, Cervantes 11, Dela Cruz 9, Gamalinda 5, Reyes 5, Agovida 4, Cortez 4, Bulawan 2, Golla 0, Vosotros 0.
Quarter scores: 28-22, 58-41, 92-75, 122-103.
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– Rappler.com