MANILA - The Star Hotshots played their tightest defensive game yet, shackling the TNT KaTropa Texters en route to a crucial 88-77 victory in the PBA Philippine Cup Sunday night. The Hotshots held the Texters to a conference-low score, way below their conference average of just over 100 points. Showing its extra sharp defensive strategy, Star only gave up 12 points in the first quarter and allowed just 15 in the fourth period. Their fourth win in eight games allowed the Hotshots to join a five-team logjam at fifth to nine places, which also includes TNT, Alaska, Ginebra and Phoenix. Star also snapped a two-game losing skid while TNT suffered its first back-to-back loses. Center Ian Sangalang led Star with 14 points while Aldrech Ramos and Allein Maliksi added 13 apiece. The Hotshots limited TNT star Jayson Castro to just 26-percent shooting from the field. He finished with 16 points, seven of them scored on the free throw line. Ranidel de Ocampo led TNT with 21 points in a losing effort. Blackwater 103, Alaska 100 Cellar dweller turned giant killer Blackwater Elite struck down another top title contender, beating the Alaska Aces, 103-100. The victory snapped Blackwater's two-game losing skid as the Elite climbed two notches up, from sixth to fourth place, with their fifth win in nine games. Alaska absorbed its fourth loss in eight games. New acquisition Roi Sumang played his best game yet in the pro league, firing 19 points, 10 of them in the fourth quarter, including six of Blackwater's last eight points. He went 7-of-10 from the field in 22 minutes off the bench, and also had three steals. Rookie and Blackwater top gunner Mac Belo led his team with 21 points, nailing crucial baskets at crunch time. He also collected seven rebounds. Sumang and Raymond Aguilar sparked Blackwater's 14-0 run bridging the third and fourth quarters to seize an 83-71 lead early in the fourth. Behind the guns of JVee Casio and Calvin Abueva, the Aces rallied and cut Blackwater's lead to one, 101-100, with 5.6 seconds left. But Blackwater's Denok Miranda took off the pressure by hitting two crucial free throws. Alaska still had a chance to force overtime, but Abueva's three-point shot was off as the final buzzer sounded. Abueva and Casio scored 23 points each. Abueva also grabbed 14 rebounds but committed seven turnovers. Vic Manuel added 13 markers. Games Wednesday: Mahindra Flood Buster vs. TNT KaTropa and Phoenix Petroleum Fuel Masters vs. NLEX Road Warriors.
