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MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – Purefoods Star needed another monster game from Denzel Bowles to stop the hard-luck Barako Bull, 103-93, at the PBA Commissioner’s Cup on Tuesday.
The Hotshots fell behind by seven points in the first half but Bowles, who saved Purefoods during their triple overtime thriller against Talk ‘N Text last Saturday, dumped 21 points in the third quarter to upend the Energy Cola.
Bowles eventually finished the game with 34 points, more than the combined 28 points of teammates Joe Devance and Allein Maliksi to steer the Hotshots to their third straight win.
Purefoods now has a record of 7-3 to clinch solo second behind Meralco.
Barako Bull had four players churning out double digits. Sol Alabi scored 29 points to go with his 19 boards, while Chico Lanete and JC Intal added 21 and 15, respectively. Sol Mercado chipped in 14 markers.
All of these, however, went to waste because of Bowles.
Barako Bull mounted a 9-0 run late in the fourth to pull within 94-99 but Devance and Marc Pingris doused the fire and secured the win for Purefoods.
Barako Bull fell to 4-6. The Energy lost six of their last seven games, after starting the tourney with three straight wins.
Meanwhile, Alaska leaned on Sonny Thoss and Dondon Hontiveros to pull off a 108-103 victory over Meralco in double overtime.
Alaska lost a foul-saddled Damion James near the end of the match but Thoss and Hontiveros were able to deliver in the end.
With the win, the Aces improved their record to 4-5 and forced a four-way logjam at sixth place with Barangay Ginebra, Globalport and KIA.
With the loss, Meralco dropped 6-3 for joint second with Talk ‘N Text and Rain or Shine.
Photo: Mark Cristino/ABS-CBNNews.com
This story was republished with permission from ABS-CBNNews.com
