Cliff Hodge and the Meralco Bolts took a Game 1 loss to Brgy. Ginebra in their PBA Season 49 Governors Cup quarterfinals series.
Run it back.
Brgy. Ginebra San Miguel and the Meralco Bolts meet again in Game 2 of their PBA Season 49 Governors' Cup quarterfinal series, with the Gin Kings looking to put their rivals on the brink.
Ginebra holds a 1-0 lead after a hard-fought 99-92 victory in Game 1 and will be looking to take a commanding 2-0 advantage in the best-of-5 series.
[Related: PBA: Justin Brownlee posts double-double as Ginebra takes Game 1 of QF opener vs Meralco]
Meanwhile, Meralco is obviously determined to bounce back and avoid falling into a deep deficit.
In Game 1, Ginebra’s fourth-quarter push made a key difference, with Justin Brownlee leading the way.
The do-it-all import posted 29 points, 12 rebounds, seven assists, and three steals, putting the Gin Kings in the driver's seat. Scottie Thompson was also instrumental, contributing 19 points, five rebounds, and five assists.
Veteran Joe Devance, who returned from retirement for the playoffs, added two points in limited minutes, providing a boost to the Gin Kings' bench.
[Related: PBA: Tim Cone pleased with Joe Devance's contributions in Ginebra's win over Meralco]
Despite the loss, Meralco put up a strong fight, led by Defensive Player of the Year Cliff Hodge, who scored 23 points
Chris Newsome added 20 points for the Bolts, but the team will be hard-pressed to bounce back and level the series.
Game 2 is set for Saturday, September 28, at 7:30 p.m. live from the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
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[Editor's note: This article was generated by a member of the One Sports Digital team using AI, and then checked by the staff to ensure accuracy.]