The Star Hotshots remained unbeaten in the Oppo PBA Governors’ Cup after knocking off the San Miguel Beermen, 104-98, on Friday at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.
Star survived a late charge from SMB but was able to pull through thanks to a clutch three-pointer from import Malcolm Hill and some reliable free throw shooting from Ian Sangalang.
Hill led the Hotshots with a team-high 20 points and nine rebounds while Sangalang logged a double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds.
Both Star and San Miguel entered the game with 2-0 records. The Hotshots (3-0) moved up into a tie for second place with the Meralco Bolts while the Beermen settled for a 2-1 mark.
Star led by double-digits, 97-87, with three minutes remaining left in the game.
But SMB’s Wendell McKines and Arwind Santos combined for an 8-0 run that got the Beermen to within two points, 97-95.
Hill drained a triple that made it 100-95 for Star but that was answered by a Marcio Lassiter three-pointer on the other end, 100-98.
Sangalang, though, made both of his attempts from the free throw line and, after a missed triple by Chris Ross, made two more to seal the game.
McKines finished with 27 points and 22 rebounds in the loss while Lassiter scored 24.
