Meralco improved to a 5-5 record after a wire-to-wire win over Magnolia in the PBA Season 48 Philippine Cup on Sunday, April 28.
With a little over a minute left on the clock, Jerrick Balanza launched an open three-pointer from the left elbow. It rimmed out.
It had been that kind of day for Magnolia, and Meralco exploited the Hotshots' off night to hammer out a 74-51 win in the PBA Season 48 Philippine Cup at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig on Sunday, April 28.
The Bolts also gave Magnolia a dose of its own medicine, clamping down on defense to seize control early before limiting the latter to its fewest points in franchise history.
More importantly, Meralco continued to bolster its playoff chances as it hiked its mark to 5-5.
“I think, it was a bit of two things. In the first half 21 points lang sila, [kasi] we played good defense,” said Bolts coach Luigi Trillo.
“They are lacking two players also. Not to take anything away from my players, we played good defensively, but they didn’t have (Jio) Jalalon and Calvin (Abueva).”
Raymond Almazan stepped up for Meralco with 12 points and 11 rebounds while Chris Newsome also had 12 markers, eight boards and seven assists.
Chris Banchero added 11 points, two rebounds and three assists, and Brandon Bates contributed 10 markers and six rebounds.
While everything was just clicking for the Bolts, it wasn’t the same case with Magnolia.
The Hotshots shot a woeful 18-of-71 from the field, including 1-19 or five percent from the three-point area.
Their only field goal from that range came in the 10:54 mark of the third period after Aris Dionisio uncorked a triple to cut the deficit to 11, 35-24.
It did little to fan the flames, though, with the Bolts battering them on all fronts en route to a 23-point lead, 63-40 on Banchero’s trey with 8:32 remaining in the fourth period.
Magnolia did show some signs of life after Jerrick Balanza checked in and sparked a 9-2 rally capped by an graceful up-and-under move with 4:43 to go, 65-49.
But the Bolts were quick to restore power and never looked back.
The Hotshots suffered their second straight loss for a 5-4 card.
The Scores:
MERALCO 74 – Newsome 12, Almazan 12, Banchero 11, Bates 10, Caram 9, Quinto 6, Maliksi 4, Black 3, Dario 3, Hodge 2, Pascual 2, Torres 0, Pasaol 0.
MAGNOLIA 51 – Sangalang 8, Laput 6, Dionisio 6, Lee 6, Dela Rosa 5, Barroca 5, Tratter 4, Balanza 4, Escoto 2, Corpuz 2, Eriobu 2, Mendoza 1, Reavis 0.
Quarterscores: 21-14, 35-21, 56-34, 74-51