PBA Round 7: Hotshots beat NLEX RW in the most crucial game of the week

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

An exciting game between Top Four teams was played in Makati City. Leader Hotshots faced 4th placed NLEX RW. Guests from Pasig City (4-0) defeated host NLEX RW (2-2) 111-97. Hotshots made 29-of-36 free shots (80.6 percent) during the game. They also forced 19 NLEX RW turnovers. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists. 25 personal fouls committed by NLEX RW helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. Serbian-American forward Nick Rakocevic (211-1997, college: USC, agency: Pensack Sports) fired a double-double by scoring 36 points (!!!) and 15 rebounds for the winners. point guard Jiovani Jalalon (175-1992) chipped in 18 points, 5 rebounds, 8 assists and 6 steals. point guard Kevin Alas (183-1991) produced 16 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists for lost side. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Hotshots have a solid series of four victories in a row. They keep a position of league leader. NLEX RW at the other side dropped to the fifth place with two games lost. They share the position with Ginebra Kings and Rain or Shine. Hotshots' supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will face at home their local rival from Pasig City North Port.
Bottom-ranked Terrafirma Dyip (0-5) tried to put together a comeback for its first victory of the season, but they fell short in the 93-86 loss to seventh ranked Blackwater Elite (3-3) in Caloocan City. Worth to mention a great performance of American center Cameron Krutwig (206-1998, college: Loyola, IL) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 29 points and 24 rebounds (made all of his seven free throws). Baser Amer contributed with 21 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists for the winners. British V.Islands-Indonesian center Lester Prosper (210-1988, college: Old Westbury, agency: YoungGroup Unlimited) answered with a double-double by scoring 18 points and 11 rebounds for Terrafirma Dyip. Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Blackwater Elite moved-up to fourth place. Terrafirma Dyip at the other side still closes the standings with five games lost. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
We should mention about the upset which took place in Quezon, where 4th placed Ginebra Kings (2-2) lost to twelfth ranked Phoenix (2-3) in a road game 93-101 on Friday. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Ginebra Kings. It was a great evening for Kaleb Wesson who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 15 points, 17 rebounds and 5 assists. At the losing side Justin Brownlee responded with a double-double by scoring 23 points, 11 rebounds and 8 assists. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. Phoenix moved-up to eighth place. Loser Ginebra Kings dropped to the fifth position with two games lost. They share it with Rain or Shine and NLEX RW. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.

In the last game of round 7 Blackwater Elite were defeated by North Port in Pasig City 87-83.

North Port - Blackwater Elite 87-83

The game between closely ranked teams ended with 7th ranked Blackwater Elite's (3-3) road loss to sixth ranked North Port (3-2) 83-87 on Wednesday. North Port looked well-organized offensively handing out 27 assists. It was a great evening for American-Rwandan center Prince Ibeh (208-1994, college: Texas) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 19 points and 10 rebounds. Guard Robert Bolick (185-1995) helped adding 12 points, 7 rebounds and 10 assists. Five North Port players scored in double figures. At the losing side American center Cameron Krutwig (206-1998, college: Loyola, IL) responded with a double-double by scoring 28 points, 17 rebounds and 4 assists and forward Jeth Troy Rosario (201-1992) scored 17 points and 5 rebounds. Both coaches allowed to play bench players in such tough game. North Port moved-up to third place. Loser Blackwater Elite dropped to the fourth position with three games lost. North Port's supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will travel locally in Pasig City to the arena Hotshots.
Top scorers:
North Port: P.Ibeh 19+10reb+2ast, A.Tolentino 15+6reb, A.Santos 14+10reb+2ast, B.Jerrick 13+3reb+4ast, B.Robert 12+7reb+10ast, K.Ferrer 7+1reb+1ast
Blackwater Elite: C.Krutwig 28+17reb+4ast, J.Troy Rosario 17+5reb+1ast, B.Amer 16+3ast, U.Renato 8+12reb+1ast, A.Myke 7+1ast, S.Rey 4+3reb+1ast

NLEX RW - Hotshots 97-111

An exciting game between Top Four teams was played in Makati City. Leader Hotshots faced 4th placed NLEX RW. Guests from Pasig City (4-0) defeated host NLEX RW (2-2) 111-97. Hotshots made 29-of-36 free shots (80.6 percent) during the game. They also forced 19 NLEX RW turnovers. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists. 25 personal fouls committed by NLEX RW helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. Serbian-American forward Nick Rakocevic (211-1997, college: USC, agency: Pensack Sports) fired a double-double by scoring 36 points (!!!) and 15 rebounds for the winners. Point guard Jiovani Jalalon (175-1992) chipped in 18 points, 5 rebounds, 8 assists and 6 steals. Point guard Kevin Alas (183-1991) produced 16 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists and American Earl Clark (208-1988, college: Louisville) added 15 points and 10 rebounds respectively for lost side. Five NLEX RW players scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Hotshots have a solid series of four victories in a row. They keep a position of league leader. NLEX RW at the other side dropped to the fifth place with two games lost. They share the position with Ginebra Kings and Rain or Shine. Hotshots' supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will face at home their local rival from Pasig City North Port.
Top scorers:
Hotshots: N.Rakocevic 36+15reb+2ast, J.Jalalon 18+5reb+8ast, A.Barroca 16+1reb+4ast, P.Lee 9+6reb+2ast, J.Corpuz 8+3reb+2ast, D.Aris 8+5reb+1ast
NLEX RW: K.Alas 16+6reb+5ast, J.Chua 16+6reb+2ast, E.Clark 15+10reb+2ast, B.Rosser 15+5reb, T.Celedonio 12+5reb+2ast, J.Nieto 7+4reb+6ast

Blackwater Elite - Terrafirma Dyip 93-86

Bottom-ranked Terrafirma Dyip (0-5) tried to put together a comeback for its first victory of the season, but they fell short in the 93-86 loss to seventh ranked Blackwater Elite (3-3) in Caloocan City. Blackwater Elite outrebounded Terrafirma Dyip 55-38 including 40 on the defensive glass. Worth to mention a great performance of American center Cameron Krutwig (206-1998, college: Loyola, IL) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 29 points and 24 rebounds (made all of his seven free throws). Point guard Baser Amer (180-1992, agency: BIG) contributed with 21 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists for the winners. British V.Islands-Indonesian center Lester Prosper (210-1988, college: Old Westbury, agency: YoungGroup Unlimited) answered with a double-double by scoring 18 points and 11 rebounds and naturalized American guard Joshua Munzon (191-1995, college: CS Los Angeles) added 9 points and 5 rebounds in the effort for Terrafirma Dyip. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Blackwater Elite moved-up to fourth place. Terrafirma Dyip at the other side still closes the standings with five games lost. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Top scorers:
Blackwater Elite: C.Krutwig 29+24reb+3ast, B.Amer 21+5reb+4ast, J.Troy Rosario 15+5reb+2ast, R.McCarthy 10+2reb+4ast, U.Renato 6+12reb+2ast, S.Rey 5+2ast
Terrafirma Dyip: L.Prosper 18+11reb+1ast, P.Cahilig 12+3reb+1ast, C.John 10+2reb+2ast, A.Ramos 10+4reb+2ast, J.Munzon 9+5reb+3ast, A.Cabagnot 7+4ast

Phoenix - Ginebra Kings 101-93

We should mention about the upset which took place in Quezon, where 4th placed Ginebra Kings (2-2) lost to twelfth ranked Phoenix (2-3) in a road game 93-101 on Friday. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Ginebra Kings. Phoenix made 17-of-21 free shots (81.0 percent) during the game. They outrebounded Ginebra Kings 47-35 including 35 on the defensive glass. Phoenix looked well-organized offensively handing out 27 assists. It was a great evening for American power forward Kaleb Wesson (208-1999, college: Ohio St.) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 15 points, 17 rebounds and 5 assists. Naturalized American forward Sean Anthony (193-1986) helped adding 14 points, 13 rebounds and 5 assists. At the losing side American forward Justin Brownlee (197-1988, college: St.John's) responded with a double-double by scoring 23 points, 11 rebounds and 8 assists and naturalized American point guard Stanley Pringle (184-1987, college: Penn St., agency: Pensack Sports) scored 25 points. Five Phoenix and four Ginebra Kings players scored in double figures. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. Phoenix moved-up to eighth place. Loser Ginebra Kings dropped to the fifth position with two games lost. They share it with Rain or Shine and NLEX RW. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Top scorers:
Phoenix: M.Javee 20+5reb+2ast, T.Tyler 17+1reb+7ast, S.Encho 16+3reb+4ast, K.Wesson 15+17reb+5ast, S.Anthony 14+13reb+5ast, R.Jazul 7+2reb+3ast
Ginebra Kings: S.Pringle 25+1reb+2ast, J.Brownlee 23+11reb+8ast, M.Jamie 13+4reb+2ast, S.Thompson 11+6reb+3ast, J.Aguilar 7+5reb+2ast, L.Tenorio 7+2reb+2ast



Tags : NICK RAKOCEVIC, MAGNOLIA HOTSHOTS, FILIPINO BASKETBALL