Star earns first win after squeaking past Globalport in OT

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – Amid a power interruption, the Star Hotshots finally found the light, winning their first game in 3 outings in a 105-102 overtime squeaker against the Globalport Batang Pier in the 2016 PBA Governors’ Cup on Sunday, July 24 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Guard RR Garcia fittingly delivered his team to victory with the marginal free throws with 8 seconds left in overtime, capping off an inspired performance that waxed nostalgic of his UAAP MVP year with the FEU Tamaraws 6 years ago.

Garcia, who finished with a team-high 26 points on 11-of-13 shooting along with 4 rebounds, was also responsible for forcing overtime with a drive in the last 3.7 seconds of regulation, tying the count at 92.

“He got his confidence going and it was really fun seeing him and Terrence (Romeo) go at it,” head coach Jason Webb said of his new acquisition Garcia, who played his best game since getting traded in a thrilling match-up with former FEU teammate Terrence Romeo.

“Pero mas masaya lang kapag nagmimintis si Terrence tapos nakaka-shoot si RR (It’s more fun when Terrence misses while RR shoots). It looked good. We gave up a lot to get him and he played like the 3 players we traded away combined today.”

Import Marqus Blakely posted 24 points, 22 rebounds, which were evenly distributed on the defensive and offensive glass, along with 6 assists, 5 steals, and a block.

PJ Simon added 15 points off the bench, with his only 3 points of the fourth quarter coming in the form of a high-looping trey at just the right time to knot the count at 90 with 16.7 seconds remaining.

Mark Barroca contributed 11 points and 6 assists, including the final free throw to seal the deal in the extra period.

“We put ourselves in a pickle. But at the end of the day, these games are not final nor are they fatal. So we’re still alive, even if we started poorly,” said Webb.

The Hotshots finally broke through the win column but left the still winless Batang Pier in the dark at 0-3.

Globalport’s new import Michael Glover, who came in to replace Dominique Sutton after he was called up by NBA champions Cleveland Cavaliers, came up with 27 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists, and a block.

Glover’s two free throws with 14.7 seconds left in regulation put the Batang Pier ahead by two before Garcia’s drive leveled the score.

Romeo likewise had 27 points with 6 rebounds and 6 assists, draining 6 3-pointers in the game but shooting just 9-of-23 overall. He had only 4 points combined in the fourth quarter and in overtime.

Stanley Pringle, whose deliberate foul in the dying seconds of overtime paved the way for Garcia’s game-winning charities, played almost 47 minutes and had 20 points.

Joseph Yeo and Yousef Taha added 11 and 10 points, respectively. Taha also grabbed 13 rebounds for the slumping Globalport.

Early in the fourth quarter, the game was halted for roughly 20 minutes as the coliseum’s main power source was knocked down due to the heavy rains, according to the announcement on the court.

Players avoided cooling down by stretching and shooting around during the lull.

Power fluctuated here inside Araneta and now the court is pitch black. Flashlight game is on for some fans #PBA2016 pic.twitter.com/nJs1JRkpn6

— Jane Bracher (@janebracher) July 24, 2016

Araneta barker: "Due to heavy rains outside, our main power source has been knocked down. Please bear with us as we restore power" #PBA2016

— Jane Bracher (@janebracher) July 24, 2016

We got a big crowd tonight waiting for the game, still dark here #PBA2016 pic.twitter.com/epa998w66a

— Jane Bracher (@janebracher) July 24, 2016

Scores:





Quarter scores: 19-22, 42-44, 71-71, 92-92, 105-102.

– Rappler.com