Meralco kept itself in the Top Four discussion following a 108-93 rout of the also-ran Blackwater to post back-to-back wins once more in the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup at the SMART Araneta Coliseum, Sunday evening.
The Bolts hardly needed time to seize control, racing to a 35-25 lead after the first 12 minutes before breaking the game wide open during the third canto en route to following up their dominant victory over Ginebra just last Friday.
As a result, they’ve now joined the Kings at no. 3 in the standings with similar 7-3 records, although it could still change depending on how the crowd darlings’ meeting with current 2-seed Rain or Shine (8-2) goes later in the night.
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“It’s a testament to these guys that they came locked in. It gives us a chance now to really put pressure and get a chance to get to the Top Four,” said Coach Luigi Trillo as they also annexed their eighth straight conference playoffs.
Six players finished in double figures in the win, with import Marvin Jones showing the way with 26 points on 52.4-percent shooting and 12 rebounds.
Chris Banchero delivered 14 points and eight assists to lead the bench support. CJ Cansino and Bong Quinto supplied 12 points apiece and combined for nine rebounds, with Aaron Black coming through with 11 points.
Main man Chris Newsome chipped in 10 points, spiked by a pair of three-pointers, alongside three rebounds and four assists in the balanced attack.
“We know how important it is,” said Banchero. “We’ve been on the outside for the last few conferences, so to get to the Top Four would be a huge boost.”
Meralco has two games left in its elimination round campaign, and the perennial contenders are definitely aiming to sweep both Terrafirma (May 8) and Magnolia (May 8) to seal their place in the upper half of the Magic Eight.
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Robert Upshaw III, back in action after sitting out in their eventual loss to Macau due to a calf issue, led the Bossing with a game-high 31 points and 12 rebounds in the defeat–their third straight which also dropped their record to 2-9,
Guards Sedrick Barefield and Paul Zamar were the only other players in twin digits with 16 and 11 points, respectively, for Blackwater, which will look to conclude its conference strong against the virtually out Converge on May 9.
The Scores:
Meralco 108 – Jones 26, Banchero 14, Quinto 12, Cansino 12, Black 11, Newsome 10, Brickman 6, Hodge 6, Mocon 5, Bates 2, Maliksi 2, Pascual 1, Comia 1, Rios 0, Magbuhos 0.
Blackwater 93 – Upshaw 31, Barefield 16, Zamar 11, Mallilin 9, Una 9, Austria 7, Tratter 5, Murrell 2, Jopia 2, Altamirano 0, Davod 0, Andrade 0, Guinto 0.
Quarterscores: 35-25, 61-51, 87-67, 108-93.
