Gani Lawal showed how valuable he can be for Meralco as he powered the Bolts past sister teams TNT KaTropa, 96-83, in a tuneup game Thursday afternoon at the Meralco Gym in Pasig City.
The Nigerian slotman fired 36 points, including 10 in the second quarter which came from free throws.
The 6-foot-10 Lawal was responsible in Meralco’s fiery start into the friendly, as they unloaded 32 big points in the first quarter alone while limiting the opposition to just 15 points.
And when the KaTropa threatened by knocking within five with 8:45 to go in the final frame, Lawal led the Bolts rally en route to a 91-79 lead with 2:55 left to play to shut the door close for TNT.
Rookie Trevis Jackson led the Orangemen’s local crew with 15 points.
Import Terrence Jones — who’s fresh from a brief stint with Houston Rockets in the NBA — led TNT with 37 points, including 24 in the second half as he tried to will his team back into the game.
Don Trollano supplied 15 points, as Samboy De Leon chimed in 13 markers to lead the locals in the defeat.
TNT did not have its veterans Harvey Carey, Tony Semerad, Troy Rosario, Ryan Reyes and Jayson Castro in the tuneup as they are currently nursing injuries as per team consultant Mark Dickel.
TNT and Meralco are gearing up for the 2019 PBA Commissioner’s Cup set to open on May 19.
The Scores:
Meralco (96) – Lawal 36, Jackson 15, Newsome 7, De Ocampo 7, Tolomia 7, Salva 6, Pinto 5, Hodge 4, Amer 4, Faundo 2, Hugnatan 2, Caram 0, Quinto 0, Espinas 0.
TNT (83) – Jones 37, Trollano 15, De Leon 13, Pogoy 8, Williams 4, Casiño 2, Bono 2, Semerad 2, Taha 0, Golla 0.
Quarterscores: 32-17, 51-39, 71-63, 96-83.
