Meralco avoided an upset from happening as it finished NLEX, 97-86, to finally complete the 2021 Honda PBA Philippine Cup semifinal cast, Friday evening at the Don Honorio Ventura State University Gym in Bacolor, Pampanga.
The Bolts were seemingly haunted by the ghost of the past after seeing their 18-point third quarter lead become just seven in the final frame, but showed composure in the endgame to book their second all-Filipino semis trip.
“Whenever you play against Yeng Guiao’s teams, it’s always gonna be a tough game, it’s always gonna be a very physical game. There’s gonna be a lot of intensity, like what you saw tonight,” offered head coach Norman Black.
“And, hey, we’re back in the semis again. It feels good after getting there last conference in the All-Filipino and now we’re back,” he added.
The second seed’s win also ensured that all the top four teams are in the penultimate phase. They will face the no. 3 Magnolia in a best-of-seven series as the other bracket will feature the top-ranked TNT and San Miguel Beer.
“It’s going to be very, very difficult for us in the series. But at the same time, I think we’ll be very competitive. And of course, we’ll be out to win,” said Black, whose team beat the Hotshots in the elimination round.
Main man Chris Newsome led Meralco with 23 points, nine rebounds, and six assists. Anjo Caram and Cliff Hodge each contributed 16 points, as veteran Reynel Hugnatan chimed in 11 markers in the victory.
Newsome and Caram were key in that big third quarter, where they inflated the Bolts’ 11-point halftime lead to 18, 64-46, with 3:50 on the clock.
However, with the trio of Don Trollano, JR Quinahan, and Kevin Alas taking the wheel, the Road Warriors sliced the gap to just single digits, 68-60, before the period ended to make it more manageable entering the fourth.
Yeng Guiao’s wards went on to trim the gap to just seven, 75-82, following a perfect trip to the free-throw line by Jericho Cruz.
Unfortunately for NLEX, that was the closest it could ever get. Newsome, Caram, and Hugnatan connived for seven straight points to re-establish a 14-point advantage, 89-75, with 4:01 remaining.
“They were changing their defenses to try to confuse us on offense. I thought my guys did a very good job of being able to see exactly what they were doing defensively and they reacted very, very well,” Black said.
Trollano led NLEX with 19 points in the loss that foiled his team’s bid to return to the semis, which it last did in the 2018 Philippine Cup.
Rookie Calvin Oftana had 14 points and 11 rebounds. Quinahan made 13 points, as Cruz and Alas added 11 and 10 markers, respectively.
The Road Warriors did not have Guiao in the final 1:57 for incurring his second technical foul of the night for disrespectfully addressing an official.
The Scores:
Meralco 97 – Newsome 23, Caram 16, Hodge 16, Hugnatan 11, Quinto 9, Maliksi 8, Belo 7, Pinto 5, Almazan 2, Pasaol 0.
NLEX 86 – Trollano 19, Oftana 14, Quiñahan 13, Cruz 11, Alas 10, Semerad 8, Soyud 4, Paniamogan 3, Miranda 2, Ighalo 2.
Quarterscores: 22-21, 46-35, 68-60, 97-86.
