MANILA — The defending champion Purefoods Star Hotshots demolished the Alaska Aces, 120-86, in a masterful display of their massive firepower and defensive intensity en route to a 1-0 lead in their best-of-three PBA Commissioner's Cup quarterfinals series Friday night at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum. Leading Best Import candidate Denzel Bowles once again led the Hotshots with 20 points and eight rebounds in less than 23 minutes of play. James Yap was likewise devastating with 18 points. PJ Simon added 13 points, while Marc Pingris and Joe Devance chipped in with 11 and 10 points markers, respectively. De Vance also had eight rebounds and seven assists. With the win, the third-seeded Hotshots moved to within a win of advancing to the PBA Commissioner's Cup semifinals against the winner of the Talk N Text versus Barako Bull matchup. Purefoods raced to a 31-7 lead in the first quarter and never looked back. The Aces were completely outplayed on both ends of the court by the quicker and taller Hotshots. Import Damion James led Alaska with 21 points. Only two local Aces scored in double digits – RJ Jazul with 12 points and Vic Manuel with 10. Meralco 97, NLEX 82 Seldom used Mark Macapagal exploded for 22 points, including five three-pointers, to lead the Meralco Bolts to a 97-82 victory over the NLEX Road Warriors in Game 1 of their best-of-three quarterfinals series. Macapagal shot 6-for-11 from the field and 5-for-10 from beyond the arc in just 19 minutes of action off the bench. Meralco could clinch the series with another victory Sunday. The winner of that pairing then advances to the semifinals against the winner of the Rain or Shine-Ginebra duel. Macapagal led five other Bolts in double-digit scoring. Import Josh Davis filled up the stats sheet with 16 points, 21 rebounds, three assists, two steals, and one block. Sean Anthony added 14 markers and seven boards. Gary David finished with 13 points while Mike Cortez and Reynel Hugnatan chipped in with 10 markers apiece. Meralco's defense was as good as its offense as the Bolts limited NLEX's explosive import Al Thornton to 23 points. Thornton was averaging 31.5 points per game heading into the playoffs. The Bolts led from start to finish, starting with an 11-2 run and then blowing the game wide open in the fourth quarter where they led by as many as 22 points. Macmac Cardona was the top scorer for NLEX with 17 points. Jonas Villanueva added 13 markers. Games Saturday: Talk N Text Tropang Texters vs. Barako Bull Energy; Rain or Shine Elasto Painters vs. Barangay Ginebra Kings.
