Meralco improved to a 4-5 win-loss record to stay in the hunt for a PBA Season 48 Philippine Cup playoffs berth.
Cold for the most part of the game, Bong Quinto stepped up when push came to shove as Meralco nearly blew an 11-point lead but did just enough to hack out an 82-76 win over Phoenix in the PBA Season 48 Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao on Friday, April 26.
Quinto did not have any field goal but hit 3-of-4 shots from the foul line which iced the Bolts' fourth win in nine games to stay in the race for a playoff spot.
He finished with three points, three rebounds and four assists.
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Bong Quinto delivers from the charity stripe for Meralco. | Photo (c) PBA
It was Aaron Black who spearheaded Meralco's attack with 18 points he topped with four rebounds and the same number of assists to gain Player of the Game honors.
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Chris Newsome added 15 points while Chris Banchero had 14 for the Bolts, who built a 75-64 lead with under six minutes remaining in the game on Cliff Hodge’s basket.
RR Garcia then sparked an 8-to-nothing rally with two booming triples to trim the deficit to, 75-72.
It was a nip-and-tuck contest from there, with Jayvee Mocon spearheading Phoenix’s final push with a layup with 2:24 to go, 77-74.
Bancher hit a jumper over Garcia, before Quinto sealed the win with his shots from the free throw line.
“That team has no quit in them. We’re both down in the team standings right now so every game is important. Both teams are backed against the wall. Something’s gonna give. You lose one you’re probably out of it already,” said Meralco coach Luigi Trillo.
The Fuel Masters fell to 3-7.
Tuffin, who also hit a long two that pulled the Fuel Masters to within three, 79-76, with 19.4 ticks remaining, finished with 14 points.
Kent Salado added 12 points, eight rebounds, and three assists.
The Scores:
MERALCO 82 – Black 18, Newsome 15, Banchero 14, Maliksi 13, Hodge 6, Caram 6, Bates 4, Almazan 3, Quinto 3, Pasaol 0, Torres 0, Pascual 0.
PHOENIX 76 – Tuffin 14, Salado 12, Jazul 9, Rivero 9, Mocon 7, Garcia 6, Perkins 5, Muyang 4, Verano 4, Alejandro 3, Soyud 3, Daves 0, Camacho 0.
Quarterscores: 24-21, 34-38, 60-53, 82-76