Meralco came from behind and beat Phoenix Super LPG in triple overtime, 116-107, to push their PBA Season 48 Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinal series to a sudden death, Wednesday night at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.
Bong Quinto, Allein Maliksi, and Chris Newsome joined forces in the decisive 10-0 start in the third extension as the Bolts eventually completed the arduous fightback after being behind by 15 points twice during the fourth quarter.
The win has allowed the MVP Group-owned franchise to blow the twice-to-beat edge of the Fuel Masters on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
“Sa amin, whatever it takes,” said head coach Luigi Trillo. “We’ve been in this situation before, we have to keep that momentum going.”
Cliff Hodge top-scored for Meralco with 20 points and 10 rebounds before leaving the game during the first OT due to an ankle sprain.
Quinto finished with 19 points as the young winger proved key in the extra periods, including the tough lay-in to send the game into 2OT.
(C) PBA Images
Shonn Miller made 18 points and 20 rebounds before fouling out late in the game. Maliksi punched in 18 markers as well and seven boards,
Newsome produced 16 points, none bigger than the clutch triple he nailed to beat the buzzer in regulation and send the match into OT.
“If I could get a game, I wanna play it now. Let’s go now if we can play now,” said a motivated Trillo. “I don’t want to wait days. Buo ang loob namin.”
Leading Phoenix, on the other hand, was Johnathan Williams, who finished with 24 points and 24 rebounds as he played 62 minutes total.
But logging that many minutes took its toll on him late in the second OT when he missed free throws that could’ve broken the 103-all deadlock.
Jason Perkins, despite cramping up, and Tyler Tio made 20 points apiece, while Ken Tuffin and RJ Jazul had 16 and 13, respectively, in the loss.
Per PBA stats chief Fidel Mangonon III, it was the first triple OT game in the league since the 2019 Governors’ Cup sudden-death quarterfinal duel between NorthPort and NLEX, which the eighth-seeded Batang Pier won, 126-123
The Scores:
Meralco 116 – Hodge 20, Quinto 19, Miller 18, Black 18, Maliksi 16, Newsome 14, Banchero 5, Almazan 2, Pascual 0, Rios 0, Caram 0.
Phoenix Super LPG 107 – Williams 24, Perkins 20, Tio 20, Tuffin 16, Jazul 13, Alejandro 6, Mocon 6, Manganti 2, Muyang 0, Soyud 0, Garcia 0, Rivero 0.
Quarterscores: 13-21, 39-47, 53-62, 84-84, 95-95, 103-103, 116-107.
