ANTIPOLO — Calvin Abueva submitted a vintage performance to power Titan Ultra to a 100-96 stunner of a victory against Meralco for a triumphant PBA debut, Wednesday evening at the Ynares Center here.
The ‘Beast’ exploded for 41 points, including 16 in the third canto alone in which he nearly matched the Bolts’ output as he headed the Giant Risers’ 31-18 eruption to turn a knotted halftime into a 76-63 lead entering the final period.
He shot 14-of-27 from the floor and went 9-of-10 from the free throw line in a solid performance that also saw him haul down seven rebounds.
“Kilala naman natin ‘yun kung gaano kalakas ang katawan niyan tsaka ang puso niyan. Talagang The Beast. We went to him,” said Coach Johnedel Cardel.
(C) PBA Images
Thanks to him, Titan Ultra authored itself a successful start to its maiden voyage in Asia’s pioneering pro league–that, after a start so tepid into the match where the entire crew could not buy a point in the first five minutes.
Joshua Munzon was responsible for scoring the franchise’s first-ever points by going perfect from the free throw line at the 6:57-mark of the opening period.
The Season 49 Most Improved Player eventually finished with 14 points, which he laced with six rebounds and five assists, plus a steal and two blocks.
Cade Flores chipped in 10 points as the troika helped push Titan Ultra’s lead to its biggest at 19, 90-71, with less than seven minutes to go in the fourth.
But it wasn’t all smooth-sailing for the Giant Risers, with the opposition showing their championship pedigree by cutting that big of a gap to as close as three twice, the last being at 95-98 behind CJ Cansino’s four with 17 seconds left.
Munzon, though, was there to keep Meralco at bay, going perfect from the stripe to make it a two-possession lead, 100-95, all but sealing the deal for his side.
“It’s a team effort. Ganoon lang naman ang basketball,” Cardel said. “But I told the guys, lahat sila kailangan maglaro kayo na parang si Calvin. Puso lang.”
Titan Ultra will look to post back-to-back wins when it takes on Converge on Saturday, October 11, at the Ynares Center II in Montalban.
(C) PBA Images
Cansino, on the other hand, led the Bolts with 22 points and nine rebounds. Raymond Almazan supplied 16 points and three blocks.
Bong Quinto made 15 points and seven rebounds, while Brandon Bates added a double-double of 10 points and 14 rebounds in the defeat.
Meralco will try to enter the win column when it faces Rain or Shine on Saturday as well at 7:30 p.m., serving as the nightcap of the double-header.
The Scores:
Titan Ultra 100 – Abueva 41, Munzon 14, Flores 10, Yu 9, Ular 8, Koon 6, Pessumal 5, Balanza 2, Ambohot 3, Cuntapay 0, Sumang 0, Melecio 0, Barasi 0
Meralco 96 – Cansino 22, Almazan 16, Quinto 15, Bates 10, Newsome 9, Hodge 7, Banchero 6, Maliksi 5, Black 4, Pascual 2, Jose 0, Reyson 0
Quarterscores: 23-25, 45-45, 76-63, 100-96.
