MANILA, Philippines – The Meralco Bolts overcame a gutsy challenge put up by the Terrafirma Dyip to extend their unbeaten run to three games in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup, 96-91, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Friday, December 6.
Jansen Rios proved to be the unlikely hero for Meralco as he sank a clutch three-pointer from the corner with only 9 seconds left to give the Bolts a 94-91 lead.
Terrafirma had a chance to respond in the next possession, but Vic Manuel failed to catch Brent Paraiso’s pass off the inbounds play, as Chris Newsome sealed the deal for Meralco with two free throws on the other end.
Stepping in for the injured Akil Mitchell – who suffered a broken nose in their previous game – DJ Kennedy, Meralco’s second import in the EASL, willed the Bolts to the hard-fought victory with a game-high 32 points on 8-of-15 shooting, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists.
Newsome backstopped Kennedy with an all-around outing of 15 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists, and 3 steals, Raymond Almazan tallied a double-double of 15 points and 12 rebounds, while Rios chipped in 11 markers on 2-of-2 shooting from deep.
Terrafirma’s new import Brandon Edwards – who replaced Ryan Richards – posted a double-double of 21 points and 13 rebounds, while Paraiso stepped up big with 20 markers.
Already trailing by as many as 16 points in the third quarter, the Dyip fought their way back in the final frame, tying the score at 91-all off two free throws by Vic Manuel with 1:08 remaining.
Terrafirma then had a golden opportunity to grab the lead after a miss by Kennedy in the next play, but Edwards likewise failed to convert on his potential go-ahead layup with 21 ticks left.
Still playing without its newly acquired star Terrence Romeo due to an injury, Terrafirma remained winless in four tries.
Meanwhile, Hong Kong Eastern bounced back in style from its loss to the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters and gave the TNT Tropang Giga a rude welcome in the Commissioner’s Cup with a 105-84 rout in the second game.
Cameron Clark showed the way for Eastern with another huge double-double of 36 points and 14 rebounds, while Hayden Blankley atoned for his awful 1-of-15 shooting performance against Rain or Shine two days ago with 24 points on 8-of-15 shooting and 10 rebounds.
With the score knotted at 47-all at halftime, TNT suddenly failed to keep in step with Eastern as the latter unleashed a 26-16 third-quarter rally for a 73-63 cushion heading into the fourth.
Eastern kept its double-digit advantage the rest of the way as the undermanned Tropang Giga – who played minus their key veterans Jayson Castro and Kelly Williams – just simply ran out of gas in the second half.
TNT also lost its top big man Poy Erram just four minutes into the ball game after he got ejected for hitting Eastern’s Glenn Yang above the shoulder.
Returning import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson was the lone bright spot for the Governors’ Cup champion Tropang Giga as he exploded for 33 points on 12-of-22 shooting and 7 rebounds in the loss.
Eastern hiked its record to 3-1, while TNT opened its Commissioner’s Cup campaign on the wrong foot at 0-1.
First Game
Meralco 96 – Kennedy 32, Newsome 15, Almazan 15, Rios 11, Caram 7, Pascual 6, Quinto 4, Hodge 3, Pasaol 2, Black 1, Jose 0, Torres 0.
Terrafirma 91 – Edwards 21, Paraiso 20, Manuel 13, Sangalang 10, Melecio 9, Pringle 6, Olivario 5, Catapusan 2, Nonoy 2, Ramos 2, Ferrer 1, Hernandez 0, Zaldivar 0.
Quarters: 21-20, 39-40, 69-61, 96-91.
Second Game
Eastern 105 – Clark 36, Blankely 24, Yang 19, Cao 17, Cheung 3, Lam 3, Xu 2, Zhu 1, Guinchard 0, Sulaiman 0, Chan 0.
TNT 84 – Hollis-Jefferson 33, Aurin 12, Pogoy 9, Oftana 7, Exciminiano 4, Ebona 4, Erram 4, Galinato 3, Razon 2, Nambatac 2, Heruela 0, Varilla 0, Payawal 0.
Quarters: 21-22, 47-47, 73-63, 105-84.
– Rappler.com
