Meralco now holds the top spot in Group A in the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup.
After a slow start, Meralco came out recharged in the second half to thrash Converge, 116-88, and string three straight wins in the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup on Wednesday, Sept. 4.
The Bolts notched their fourth win overall against a solitary loss to grab the solo lead in Group A, which also features TNT, NorthPort, Magnolia and Terrafirma.
The FiberXers, meanwhile, dropped their second straight game for a 2-3 tally.
Behind Allen Durham, Chris Banchero as well as bench players Anjo Caram and Alvin Pasaol, Meralco flipped the switch in the third period and never looked back.
With 1:44 remaining in the third period, sparingly used Pasaol swished a three-pointer to build a 15-point buffer, 85-70.
Meralco sustained the energy after that, opening the fourth period with seven straight points capped by Durham’s easy deuce to extend the lead to, 93-73.
It was all Meralco from there.
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Caram scored 11 of his 16 points in the pivotal 33-23 third period, where Banchero, Durham and Pasaol combined for 15 markers.
Durham led all Meralco scorers with 27 points that went with 10 rebounds and six assists, while Banchero finished with 24 points, five rebounds and the same number of dimes.
Pasaol added 12 points, three rebounds and two assists for the Bolts, whose key players like Aaron Black (meniscus), Allein Maliksi (knee), Raymond Almazan (knee), and Cliff Hodge (back) are still nursing injuries.
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“We didn’t start out too well like last game. But as the game progressed it seemed we had a sense of urgency defensively,” said Meralco coach Luigi Trillo.
Their win put to waste another stellar outing from Converge import Scotty Hopson, who had an all-around outing with 33 points, six rebounds, six assists and a block.
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Alec Stockton and JL Delos Santos chipped in 13 and 12 markers for the FiberXers, who missed the services of top big man Justin Arana because of a sprained right ankle he suffered in their previous game.
After a good start, Converge also lost Pat Maagdenberg who hyperextended his right knee two minutes into the second period.
The Scores:
MERALCO 116 – Durham 27, Banchero 24, Caram 16, Pasaol 12, Mendoza 10, Cansino 6, Newsom 5, Quinto 5, Jose 5, Rios 3, Bates 2, Pascual 1.
CONVERGE 88 – Hopson 33, Stockton 13, Delos Santos 12, AMbohot 10, Santos 8, Winston 5, Maagdenberg 4, Andrade 3, Fleming 0, Racal 0, Nieto 0, Caralipio 0, Melecio 0, Fornilos 0, Cabagnot 0.
Quarterscores: 26-32, 53-50, 86-73, 116-88