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LOOKING FOR BREAKTHROUGH
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In the last two PBA Commissioner’s Cup, Meralco won the opening battle of a best-of-three quarterfinal series but still ended up losing the war.
In the same situation now, the Bolts hope to finally squeeze through and nail an elusive Final Four passage, going for the kill versus the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“We’ve been in this situation before. We were not able to close it out, but experience is always the best teacher,” said Meralco coach Ryan Gregorio.
“Hopefully, with more intelligence and experience, we can make it now,” Gregorio added.
In a playoff format, the Bolts have yet to make the Last Four since taking over the Sta. Lucia Realty franchise in 2010.
Showing great desire and determination to break through, the Bolts topped the Elasto Painters, 94-91, in the opener of their quarters showdown Monday at the Big Dome.
Darnell Jackson converted two tough, crucial baskets to complement a lock-down defense put up by Meralco down the stretch as the Bolts outfought an RoS side playing a second game in two nights.
“We took advantage of the fatigue factor. We pounced on our edge. When they were cramping, I told my import it’s got to be them that’s more tired. And he bailed us out with those big, big shots,” said Meralco coach Ryan Gregorio.
Meralco held Rain or Shine scoreless in the last 3:03 of play and the Bolts completed the tough win with Jackson knocking down two step-back jumpers in the final minute.
Chism seemed to lose gas and energy after fighting Jackson play for play, rebound for rebound and effort for effort in the first 44 minutes of the game.
He started to fade away after taking a bad fall when he was accidentally undercut by Meralco forward Cliff Hodge.
As Chism hobbled at the finish, Jackson became more aggressive, getting the rebounds, diving for the loose balls and making the shots that sent the Bolts to the threshold of the Final Four.
Needless to say, Chism and the E-Painters need to recover right away if they’re to force a rubber.
Jackson piled up 30 points and 15 rebounds with Gary David and Jared Dillinger also collecting huge numbers as the Bolts beat out the Elasto Painters in a battle marked by 13 deadlocks and 17 lead changes.
The Bolts surged ahead at 92-91 on Jackson’s first step-back shot off Jeff Chan with 1:06 to go.
Then as Paul Lee missed a tough drive, the Bolts again went to Jackson who nailed a longer pull-away jumper off Chism to make it 94-91 with 10.2 ticks left.
Meralco sealed the win as Cliff Hodge deflected a three-point try by Lee in the closing seconds. (SB)
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EDITORS' PICK
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