The Meralco Bolts added to the misery of the Phoenix Pulse Fuel Masters, 111-91, to post back-to-back wins in the 2019 PBA Governors’ Cup, Sunday evening at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
Import Allen Durham had 27 points, 12 rebounds, and three assists in the win that hike the Bolts’ card to 3-1.
Baser Amer carried over his fiery streak from Meralco’s dominant 101-75 conquest of Alaska last Friday. This time, he finished with 26 points spiked by four three-pointers, while Raymond Almazan had 14 points and 12 rebounds.
Chris Newsome notched a rare triple-double with 13 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists and also added two steals and a block.
“I couldn’t have asked for more as far as our offense is concerned, especially when it came to the balance on our offense, the way the players moved and shared the ball,” said coach Norman Black as Meralco dished 27 dimes.
The Bolts were down, 7-9, early in the match, but managed to find their groove. They then unloaded 13 straight points en route to a 20-9 advantage to start taking control of the game.
Then come the second chapter, Meralco broke the game wide open. They turned a narrow six-point lead to a 43-27 cushion following Durham’s split from the line with 4:37 on the clock.
The Bolts would lead by as many as 27 points, 88-61, following a Nard Pinto triple with 10:38 left to play.
“My hat is off to the offense today, and with the way the players played on the offensive end of the court,” Black said.
Eugene Phelps had 31 points and 24 rebounds to lead Phoenix Pulse, who lost second game in a row.
The Fuel Masters finished the game without head coach Louie Alas, though. The outspoken bench tactician got ejected with 7:31 left in the second frame for incurring two technical fouls.
It marked the second time this conference that Alas has been booted from a game.
Meralco will next face the TNT KaTropa (4-0) on Saturday, October 12, still at the Big Dome. Meanwhile, Phoenix Pulse (1-4) will next play the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters (1-3) on Wednesday, October 9, at Cuneta Astrodome.
The Scores:
Meralco (111) — Durham 27, Amer 26, Quinto 14, Almazan 14, Newsome 13, Faundo 8, Pinto 6, Canaleta 3, Jackson 0, Salva 0, Tolomia 0, Caram 0, Hugnatan 0, Jamito 0.
Phoenix Pulse (94) — Phelps 31, Jazul 11, Garcia 10, Dennison 8, Gamboa 6, Chua 6, Perkins 4, Marcelo 4, Mallari 4, Wright 4, Napoles 3, Guevarra 3, Kramer 0.
Quarterscores: 28-16; 52-37; 80-61; 111-94.
