CJ Cansino and Juan Gomez de Liano may have last crossed paths in the UAAP hardwood battles in 2019, but their competitive spark lit up the PBA on Sunday.
It was Cansino who came out on top in their first showdown in the pros.
Churning out a career-high 29 points, including three triples, he spearheaded Meralco’s 105-84 dismantling of Converge at the Ynares Center, clinching the Bolts an outright quarterfinals slot in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup.
Gomez de Liano, not to be outdone, finished with 27 points, five rebounds, and five assists, trying to carry Converge back into contention.
Cansino’s efforts over the last three contests have powered Meralco from near the bottom of the standings to a 6-4 tie with Converge and NLEX for a Top Four berth, bringing them firmly into the race for the twice-to-beat advantage.
(C) PBA Images
“Sobrang importante ng game na ito, at thankful ako na nakatulong sa team ko,” said Cansino, reflecting on his sizzling performance. “Nasasakto sa akin ang bagsak ng bola. And we’re reminded na maging aggressive, at hindi lang maging aggressive pero matalino rin. At yun, sumu-shoot ang bola eh.”
Meralco coach Luigi Trillo praised the young winger for stepping up in a pivotal stretch.
“CJ is stepping up. It’s actually his fifth Best Player honors in six games. And what’s good for him is he’s playing defense too. He took on Juan Gomez de Liano in the fourth (quarter) in this game,” Trillo said.
The supporting cast did their part as well. Cliff Hodge and Aaron Black contributed 18 and 16 points, while Raymond Almazan and Chris Newsome added 14 and 10, respectively.
(C) PBA Images
After conceding the opening basket to Converge, Meralco ripped off a 10-0 run and never looked back, taking a commanding 33-7 lead at the end of the first quarter.
From there, the Bolts dominated every facet of the game, showcasing a balanced blend of sharp shooting and suffocating defense.
Justin Arana added 19 points and nine boards, while Justine Baltazar contributed 14 points and seven rebounds for the FiberXers.
The Scores:
Meralco 105 – Cansino 29, Hodge 18, Black 16, Almazan 14, Newsome 10, Banchero 6, Quinto 6, Bates 4, Reyson 2, Pascual 0
Converge 84 – Gomez de Liano 27, Arana 19, Baltazar 14, Concepcion 8, Stockton 6, Garcia 4, Winston 4, Muyang 2, Caralipio 0, Eguilos 0, Racal 0
Quarterscores: 33-7, 55-32, 85-60, 105-84
