Purefoods' James Yap gets ready to fire his patented one-hand leaner as Talk N Text's Larry Fonacier hounds him in Wednesday night's PBA Commissioner's Cup semifinal action at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum. JAY R. GOTERA Saudi Gazette
MANILA — Import Denzel Bowles lived up to his monicker “Monster Bowles” as he exploded for a career-high 49 points to lead the defending champions Purefoods Star Hotshots to a 100-94 victory over the Talk N Text Tropang Texters Wednesday night in Game 1 of their best-of-five PBA Commissioner's Cup semifinal series at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum. Bowles also had 10 rebounds, five assists and two blocks, asserting his might on both ends of the court. Interestingly, he set his previous career-high score of 39 points also against Talk N Text. James Yap was the lone double-digit scorer among Purefoods' locals, finishing with 18 points. Bowles was on fire from the get-go, blasting away with 18 points on a near-perfect 9-of-10 shooting in the first quarter. His points total in the first quarter even exceeded the entire Talk N Text Tropang Texters' output for the period. The Hotshots cooled a bit in the second quarter with Bowles on the bench, allowing the Texters to close the gap. A 7-0 TNT run led by Jayson Castro enabled the Texters to cut the Hotshots lead to 10, 45-35. But Bowles again scored back-to-back baskets as Purefoods ended the half on top by 15, 51-36. Outshone by Bowles in the first half, TNT import Ivan Johnson came charging in the third quarter, scoring a flurry of baskets to lead a TNT counter-strike. With momentum of their side, the Texters erased a 21-point first half deficit and cut Purefoods' lead to just four, 72-88, as Johnson finally caught fire. The Texters continued chipping away at Purefoods' lead in the final quarter, cutting the deficit to just a single point, 84-83. But Bowles was not yet through with his shooting clinic as he scored huge baskets down the stretch to keep Purefoods on top all the way. The Hotshots finished with a sizzling 50.6 percent shooting from the field, converting 41 of 81 attempts. The Texters shot a decent-enough 40.5 percent from the field, but it was not enough to subdue a red-hot Purefoods squad. Johnson led the Texters with 33 points and eight rebounds. Jayson Castro added 19 points, six assists, and six rebounds. De Ocampo finished with 15 rebounds. Game Sunday: Meralco Bolts vs. Rain or Shine Elasto Painters (Game 2 of best-of-five semifinals; Rain or Shine leads 1-0).
