Down by as much as 21 points, the Meralco Bolts stormed back to stun the TNT KaTropa, 88-77, to barge back into the win column of the 2019 PBA Philippine Cup, Wednesday evening at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.
Meralco comes back from 21 down, ends TNT’s two-game win streak
By Justine Bacnis
The Meralco Bolts raced back from 21 points down and turned back the TNT KaTropa, 88-77, to come back into the win column of the 2019 PBA Philippine Cup, Wednesday evening at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.
The Bolts fought back in the second half and made a scintillating 22-2 blitz abridging the third and fourth quarters en route to a 79-60 lead, which was more than enough to put an end to the opposition’s two-game winning streak.
Meralco has improved their card to 2-2 and created a three-way tie at the fourth spot of the team standings with the San Miguel Beermen and the Columbian Dyip. The Texters, on the other hand, went down to 2-3.
“Our communication on defense was a lot better,” said Meralco head coach Norman Black.
Chris Newsome led the Orangemen with 20 points, nine rebounds, and five assists. Baser Amer supplied 17 points, Jared Dillinger had 16 points and nine boards and five dimes as well, and Ranidel De Ocampo had 11 and nine.
The Bolts had themselves a woeful start into the match as the KaTropa opened things up with 13 unanswered points. TNT would go on and erect a 30-9 lead at early in the second quarter, thanks to back-to-back makes by Jayson Castro.
Meralco though chipped away the deficit afterwards. And through a spirited rally in the third quarter spearheaded by Amer, the Orangemen managed to erect a four-point cushion, 54-50, with 2:27 remaining in the chapter.
TNT regained the lead, 58-57, after Kelly Williams’ split from the line with 1:16 to go still in the third, but that proved to be their last taste of the lead as Meralco made a 22-2 run for a 79-60 lead with 4:47 left to play to deal the final blow.
Castro led the KaTropa with 20 points despite shooting just 5-of-15 from the field. Roger Pogoy was his only support with 15 points and five rebounds. Williams only finished with one point, but he made up for it with 15 rebounds.
Meralco will face the NLEX Road Warriors next on Saturday, February 2, at the Ynares Center in Antipolo, while TNT will look to bounce back versus the Magnolia Hotshots on Sunday, February 3, at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The Scores:
Meralco 88 – Newsome 20, Amer 17, Dillinger 16, De Ocampo 11, Salva 11, Hodge 5, Canaleta 5, Caram 3, Pinto 0, Hugnatan 0, Tolomia 0, Jackson 0.
TNT 77 – Castro 20, Pogoy 15, Trollano 8, Taha 8, Reyes 7, Semerad 7, Heruela 6, Rosario 5, Williams 1, Carey 0, Miranda 0.
Quarterscores: 9-22, 30-39, 63-58, 88-77.
