The Meralco Bolts’ record in the 2017 Governor’s Cup remain unblemished as they scored their fourth win in a row versus the slumping Kia Picanto, 112-97, Sunday evening at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.
The victory improves the Bolts’ record to 4-0, while the Picanto’s misery continues as they drop to 0-5.
“It was a very good effort from my team today both offensively and defensively,” said a satisfied Meralco head coach Norman Black in the win. “We wanted to be very focused going into this game.”
Allen Durham was undoubtedly the Bolts’ star in the win, finishing with a rare triple-double of 25 points, 11 rebounds, and 13 assists. Chris Newsome also made his presence felt with 19 points, five boards, and seven dimes.
The Bolts were a bit slow in the game’s early goings, but after forward Reynel Hugnatan’s perfect charities with 1:32 left in the opening frame gave them a 23-13 lead, things have finally picked up for them all through out.
With their rhythm on point, the team in blue even enjoyed a lead a high as 24, 76-52, after Garvo Lanete made a triple with 5:26 left in the third canto.
The Picanto still tried to make a comeback, however, as they closed within 12, 94-82, with 6:08 in the payoff period, but Meralco’s 11-4 run ended by Durham’s lay-up restored order, 105-86, and sealed the team’s fourth win.
“We didn’t want to stumble because our goal is to stay in the Top Four and get a twice-to-beat advantage,” added Black on the victory.
Baser Amer fired 17 markers for the Bolts, and Lanete chipped in 14.
The injury bug bit the Bolts tonight, as both Hugnatan and the hard-nosed Cliff Hodge suffered sprained ankles in different situations. Both forwards did not return to the court after incurring their injuries.
The still-winless Picanto were paced by import Markieth Cummings with 20 points and seven rebounds. Reden Celda supplied 17 markers, while forwards Glenn Khobuntin and Mark Yee scored 13 and 11, respectively.
The Bolts shot 51 percent from the floor, going 13-of-27 from beyond the arc. Their passing was also on point, as they dished out a notable 31 assists.
Both teams’ next games will be next Sunday, August 13, at the Mall of Asia Arena. Kia will try to end their slump versus the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters at 4:30 PM, while Meralco will look to stay unbeaten as they face the NLEX Road Warriors at 6:45 PM.
The Scores:
Meralco 112 – Durham 25, Newsome 19, Amer 17, Lanete 14, Caram 8, Dillinger 8, Nabong 7, Hugnatan 6, Chua 4, Faundo 4, Hodge 0, Daquioag 0, Sedurifa 0.
Kia 97 – Cummings 20, Celda 17, Khobuntin 13, Yee 11, Nimes 8, Corpuz 8, Revilla 6, Deutchman 5, Paniamogan 4, Camson 3, Ballesteros 2, Elorde 0, Teng 0, Salva 0.
Quarterscores: 26-15, 57-41, 82-66, 112-97.
