Star makes late push to down ROS

The Hotshots lost an 11-point fourth quarter lead but eventually held off the Elasto Painters in the last 2:30 of the game. (Photo: PBA/ Facebook)

MANILA–Star averted a late meltdown and turned back Rain or Shine, 99-93, in a PBA Commissioner’s Cup out-of-town action at the Batangas Coliseum in Batangas City on Saturday night.

The Hotshots lost an 11-point fourth quarter lead but eventually held off the Elasto Painters in the last 2:30 of the game.

Star looked to pull away for good early in the payoff period, stretching its lead to 11, 84-73.

But ROS slowly chipped away the lead and tied it up, 90-all, with 2:55 remaining.

A 7-0 blast capped by a huge slam from Tony Mitchell that even broke the backboard stand was all it took for the Hotshots to finally salvage the victory.

Paul Lee led Star with 23 points, four rebounds, and five assists, while Mitchell chipped in 21 points, making all his eight shots inside the arc, 18 rebounds, three assists, and three blocks.

Shawn Taggart and Jeff Chan each tallied 20 markers for ROS.