Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Tiebreaker Times

Basketball

Bong Quinto lifts Meralco to Finals trilogy vs Ginebra


Meralco is bound for the 2019 PBA Governors’ Cup Finals after zapping sister team TNT, 89-78, in Game Five of their semis clash Monday night at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.

This Finals trip marks the Orangemen’s return to the Big Dance after missing out in the 2018 edition of the season-ending tilt as they got ousted by eventual runners-up Alaska Aces in the semis.

The Bolts will face a familiar foe in Barangay Ginebra San Miguel in the best-of-seven title bout that starts on January 8, 2020. It will be the two teams’ third Finals meeting in four years.

“I give credit to TNT and their coaching staff because the coaching staff from Meralco, as well as our players, really had to work hard to get back to the finals,” said coach Norman Black.

Two-time Best Import Allen Durham top-scored for Meralco with 28 points on top of 10 rebounds and eight assists.

Chris Newsome produced 23 points and eight rebounds while rookie forward Bong Quinto contributed 19 points, highlighted by a perfect 3-of-3 shooting from beyond the arc.

“I’d like to thank my players because we were down 2-1 and we had to win both games to get to the finals. Everybody focused in and stayed positive,” Black expressed.

Meralco actually stared at a 53-51 deficit with less than five minutes remaining in the third canto but Durham headed a furious rally to give the lead to his side, 66-61, entering the final frame.

The locals then did their part in the payoff period. Quinto scored six straight points to open the quarter, and that sparked a 14-3 run that gave the Bolts an 80-64 lead with 6:35 to go.

#ReadMore  Javee Mocon's first practice with Rain or Shine showed how committed he was

The Bolts never gave up their hold of the driver’s seat since and went on to coast to the victory.

“Our defense is what held up for us,” the decorated Black said. “TNT is a high-powered team, a high-scoring team but defensively we were able to slow them down to beat them tonight.”

KJ McDaniels had 30 points and 13 rebounds to lead the KaTropa, who were already one win away from the Finals when it gutted out a 101-97 win in Game Three only to blow that chance up.

Ray Parks finished with a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds, Jayson Castro made 11 points, while Troy Rosario and Roger Pogoy chimed in 10 markers apiece in the loss.

“Playing in a series, especially the last game, kung sino na yung bibigay diyan. Our defense is really not good,” lamented coach Bong Ravena. “We cannot make stops, we cannot make good shots.”

The Scores:

Meralco 89 — Durham 28, Newsome 23, Quinto 19, Maliksi 11, Hodge 3, Caram 3, Amer 2, Almazan 0, Pinto 0, Faundo 0, Jackson 0, Jamito 0, Jose 0, Salva 0.

TNT 78 — McDaniels 30, Parks 15, Castro 11, Rosario 10, Pogoy 10, Semerad 2, Reyes 0, Washington 0, De Leon 0, Vosotros 0.

Quarterscores: 22-23, 37-42, 66-61, 89-78.

Written By

Oftentimes on the sidelines. Forever a student of the game. Morayta-bred.


You May Also Like

Basketball

Meralco turned what was thought to be a dogfight to a lopsided mauling as it whipped Ginebra, 91-73, to arrest its two-game slide in...

Basketball

Northport made sure to get the job done before its long break, hacking out a 90-85 victory over Meralco to extend its streak to...

Basketball

Robert Bolick saved NLEX through clutch free throws once again to escape Meralco, 99-96, for its second win in the PBA Season 48 Philippine...

News

Bong Quinto came through in overtime as Meralco survived the hard-fighting Rain or Shine, 121-117, to barge into the win column of the PBA...

Basketball

ANTIPOLO – Rey Nambatac refused to see his debut become a footnote as he saved Blackwater from a massive collapse against Meralco, 96-93, in...

Basketball

The PBA has decided to scrap the Slam Dunk Contest in its 2024 All-Star festivities in Bacolod as the supposed participants are out due...

Basketball

Christian Standhardinger was selected first overall once more in the PBA All-Star Game Draft on Monday night at the TV5 Media Center in Pasig....

Basketball

The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) unveiled the schedule for the season-ending Philippine Cup, set to kick off on February 28 and conclude on May...

Advertisement