Paul Zamar’s cold-blooded triple with 7.9 seconds left helped the Blackwater Elite complete their comeback versus the Meralco Bolts, 94-91, to return to the 2018 Governors’ Cup win column, Friday at SMART Araneta Coliseum.
Zamar was the hero for the Elite versus the Bolts in the end-game, as he also swatted away Anjo Caram’s lay-up with around 20 seconds left in the game – the lay-up that could have given Meralco a 92-91 lead had it gone in.
The former Mono Vampire import finished with 13 points, 10 in the fourth quarter alone, alongside two rebounds, an assist, and a block.
“I had to decide kanina. Put Paul or Mike [DiGregorio]. And I chose Zamar,” lauded Elite head coach Bong Ramos, whose team has now improved to 5-1 to forge a triple tie at the top spot of the standings with the Barangay Ginebra and Magnolia.
Henry Walker paced Blackwater with 24 points and 14 rebounds with four blocks. Mac Belo supplied 14 points and five rebounds, while Roi Sumang had 12 points, four boards and three dimes. Allein Maliksi added 10 points.
The Elite were already down by nine with 5:39 left in final frame, but they managed to fight back with a furious 15-4 blitz – ended by Zamar’s running one-hander – to sit on the driver’s seat, 86-84, with 1:58 on the clock.
The Bolts managed to tie the game up at 88-all with 1:05 left, but Belo swished in a triple to give the Elite the edge. However, Meralco were too tough, as Allen Durham’s split sent the match into another deadlock at 91 with 18.5 ticks.
That’s when Zamar’s clutch gene on the offensive end came to play. Nard Pinto found him open on the left wing and dished it to him, and he did not waste the chance, as he made the three-pointer with 7.9 seconds to go.
Durham apparently wasn’t aware what the score was, as he drove hard and pulled up for a two-pointer near the elbow. His shot missed, and Blackwater hauled down the board to secure the victory.
“Come-from-behind na naman. Pero ang galing ng players ko,” said Ramos.
Durham led Meralco with 32 points, 21 rebounds, and six assists. Baser Amer produced 14 points, while Ken Bono added 10 markers, which he all scored in the fourth quarter. Cliff Hodge provided 15 rebounds and four assists.
Both teams will see action again this Sunday, October 7, at the Santa Rosa Multi-Purpose Complex in Laguna. Blackwater will face the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters at 4:30 PM, while Meralco will battle rivals Barangay Ginebra San Miguel at 6:45 PM.
The Scores:
Blackwater 94 – Walker 24, Belo 14, Zamar 13, Sumang 12, Maliksi 10, Jose 8, Sena 5, Pinto 4, Digregorio 2, Al-Hussaini 2, Javier 0.
Meralco 91 – Durham 32, Amer 14, Bono 10, Newsome 8, Caram 7, Lanete 5, Hodge 4, Salva 4, Tolomia 3, Jamito 2, Hugnatan 2, Atkins 0, Canaleta 0.
Quarterscores: 18-14, 40-37, 61-62, 94-91.
