IMPORT Denzel Bowles put up monster numbers in leading the Purefoods Star Hotshots to a 100-94 victory over the Talk ’N Text Tropang Texters in Game 1 of their semifinal duel in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Araneta Coliseum yesterday.
Bowles finished with 49 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and two blocked shots as the Hotshots took a 1-0 lead in their best-of-five series.
But while Bowles did most of the damage for Purefoods all-game long, it was Mark Barroca who hit the most important and amazing shot of the night.
Barroca finished with just four points but it was his sensational putback with less than a minute left that helped push the Hotshots streak past the gritty Texters.
After leading by as many as 21 points, the Hotshots found themselves in a dogfight as the Texters pulled to just one point in the final frame. Purefoods managed to erect a 95-89 lead but had the shotclock winding down on them in a crucial possession, forcing import Denzel Bowles to throw up a contested triple attempt that caromed high off the rim.
Barroca grabbed the offensive rebound and had the presence of mind to throw the ball back up behind his back, which hit the back board before bouncing on the rim and in, much to the delight of the packed crowd.
The basket gave the Hotshots a 97-89 lead with 47 ticks left and paved the way for the series-opening victory.
Talk N Text got 33 points from import Ivan Johnson and 19 from Jayson Castro.
The Texters were down 70-81 at the start of the fourth but got to within one, 83-84, behind a 13-3 rally.