Meralco needs to play a near-perfect game to seize the advantage in the series.
Aaron Black was all over the court in the Meralco Bolts’ 124-117 win over the TNT Tropang Giga in Game 2 of the PBA Governors’ Cup semifinals on Sunday.
In one of his most productive performances yet this season, Black matched his career-high in points with 28 to go with 5 rebounds. He also had a career-best 11 assists while only committing a single turnover in 47 minutes and 32 seconds of play.
He deflected credit to his teammates, though.
“I just tried to get what the defense was giving me. Mga teammates ko, they’re putting me in the right spots, especially dun sa dulo mga post-up. It was definitely a team effort today,” said Black, who dropped 6 straight points in the extra period.
Indeed, it was a team effort.
Five Bolts finished in double figures, with import KJ McDaniels putting up 39 points and 20 rebounds to go with 4 assists and 3 steals.
Cliff Hodge added 15 points and 9 rebounds, while Bong Quinto and Allein Maliksi had 11 markers each as the Bolts evened the series at one game apiece.
Black said they need to play with the same intensity on both ends of the floor in Game 3 on Wednesday to seize the advantage in the best-of-five series.
“We needed everything today. And we’re gonna need everything again on Wednesday,” he said.
Coach Norman Black agreed, saying things are only going to be tougher from hereon out.
“This is only their second loss the enire conference. Nothing is going to be easy,” he said.