Pure Foods, Meralco on course in PBA Commissioner’s Cup

With things going its way in just one night, Purefoods is suddenly looking down on everyone else in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
The defending champion Star Hotshots polished off Barako Bull with a strong second half performance, 103-96, before being handed the solo lead on a silver platter late Tuesday night after Alaska prevailed over Meralco in double overtime, 108-103, at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.
Denzel Bowles scored 21 of his 34 points in the third period where the Hotshots gained complete command, and only an erratic endgame allowed the Energy to close the gap to what it was as Purefoods improved to 7-3 with a third straight win.
The loss was the fourth straight for the Energy, who now have a 4-6 card and are, after opening up the tournament with a 3-0 card to lead, in danger of missing the playoff bus altogether by dropping to 10th spot.
Alaska’s victory gave the Aces a 4-5 card, now good for a tie for sixth spot along with four others, while dropping the Bolts to 6-3, tied for second with idle Rain or Shine and Talk ‘N Text.
Purefoods has all of a sudden become a front-runner for a top two finish and one of two twice-to-beat privileges in the first round of the playoffs.
But the Hotshots, to fully secure that, must beat Meralco on Friday to avoid complications of a tie, where they will lose to the Bolts or the Elasto Painters in the quotient system.
“We need help from some of the teams,” Purefoods coach Tim Cone said.
Otherwise, the Hotshots will be playing in a best-of-three series as they will finish fifth at worst even if they don’t win against the Bolts on Friday.
Tournament format calls for the top eight teams to advance to the quarterfinals with Nos. 1 and 2 needing to win just once over Nos. 8 and 7, respectively, to march on to the Final Four.
Nos. 3 and 6 and the fourth- and fifth-ranked squads will clash in separate race-to-two affairs to determine the other two semifinalists.
“Of course I like where we are now, considering that we are assured of playing on a level field at worst,” Cone said. “But if we can get the (quarterfinal) bonus (by finishing in the top two), we would take that.
“We will take every advantage that we can.”
Bowles, a former Best Import awardee, was unstoppable in the third period, giving the Hotshots all the energy and firepower they needed before holding off Barako Bull the rest of the way.
Purefoods led by as large as 18 points, and it was more than enough for the Energy to overcome.
Bowles, the third import for the Hotshots here,, also had 17 rebounds and two blocks in another mammoth effort.
Alaska held fort despite losing import Damion James with under 48 seconds left in the first overtime, getting the good from veterans Dondon Hontiveros and Sonny Thoss in the second extension to pound out the win.
It was the third loss in the last four games for the Bolts, who couldn’t exploit the disqualification of James in the last five minutes by making just six points.
Meanwhile, Talk ‘N Text tries to reclaim a piece of the lead on Wednesday when the Tropang Texters, coming off a sorry 118-117 triple overtime loss to the Hotshots on Saturday in Davao, try to pick up the pieces again against rejuvenated San Miguel Beer.
Game time is at 7 p.m. also at the Big Dome with the Beermen shooting to win a third straight game and stay in the hunt for a playoff spot.
NLEX battles KIA Motors in the 4:15 p.m. contest with the Road Warriors and Al Thornton aiming to make it five straight and formally make the upper half of the playoffs.