MANILA — The Star Hotshots snapped a three-game losing streak, handily beating the GlobalPort Batang Pier, 109-83, in the PBA Governors’ Cup Friday night.

Their fifth win in eight games allowed the Hotshots to remain in contention for a Top 4 finish, which carries a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals. Star is currently tied with San Miguel Beer and Rain or Shine for fifth to seventh place in the standings.

Star’s Malcolm Hill led all scorers with 32 points along with 12 rebounds, five assists, five steals, and two blocks. Ian Sangalang added 17 points and 10 boards.

The Hotshots played their first game without Allein Maliksi, one of their top gunners, who was recently shipped to Blackwater in exchange for Kyle Pascual and Bambam Gamalinda.

Defense played a key role in Star’s victory with the Hotshots limiting GlobalPort’s twin scoring monsters Stanley Pringle and Terrence Romeo to a combined 16 points on a dismal 5-of-31 shooting.

The loss was the Batang Pier’s third straight and sixth overall in nine games, further dimming their chances of making it into the playoffs with only two games left in their elimination round schedule.

Murphy Holloway paced GlobalPort with 20 points, 17 rebounds, four blocks, three assists, and three steals in 38 minutes that all went down the drain.

Meralco 106, Alaska 78

The Meralco Bolts pushed the Alaska Aces on the brink of elimination with a resounding 106-78 victory.

Allen Durham once again powered the Bolts with a double-double of 28 points and 18 rebounds along with six assists and three blocks as Meralco joined the Ginebra at the top of the standings, both with a 7-2 win-loss card.

New recruit Mike Tolomia led Meralco’s locals with 24 points, including six three-pointers, off the bench. Baser Amer added 17 points, three boards, and two assists.

Ranidel de Ocampo played his first game for Meralco after being traded by TNT, dishing out 10 markers, including two three-pointers, on top of two boards, and one assist in 17 minutes.

Chris Newsome also scored 10 points along with six rebounds, and three assists.

The Bolts led by as many as 31 points and were never in serious trouble even when the Aces made a desperate comeback bid in the third quarter when they cut the deficit to 13, 58-71. A De Ocampo triple followed by a Durham layup pushed Meralco’s lead back to 19, never to be threatened again.

LaDontae Henton led Alaska with 23 points and 10 rebounds, but his efforts were not enough to stop the Aces from absorbing a seventh loss in 10 games. Jvee Casio and Vic Manuel added 18 and 10 markers, respectively, in the loss that snapped Alaska’s three-game winning streak.