MERALCO KNOCKS OFF KIA FROM PLAYOFFS CONTENTION
MERALCO would not be struck down by the upset axe being wielded by a world boxing icon.
Jared Dillinger notched 25 points and seven rebounds in leading the Bolts past Manny Pacquiao’s Kia 99-93 Wednesday to stoke their drive for a better placing in the in the PBA Philippine Cup playoffs at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Cliff Hodge recorded his fourth double-double of the tournament with 17 points and 10 rebounds while combining with Dillinger, Mark Macapagal and Sean Anthony in providing the poise after Meralco blew a 22-point lead.
In the end, the Bolts snapped out of a two-game slide with their fifth win in 10 games that tied them with idle GlobalPort at seventh-running spot, just half a game behind sixth-running Purefoods Star.
Teams ranked Nos. 3 to 6 enjoy a twice-to-beat advantage against their counterparts seeded seventh to 10th in the first phase of the quarterfinals.
Meralco winds up its elimination round assignments against GlobalPort on Tuesday, needing another win to help realize its goal of making it among the top six in case the Hotshots lose their last two games.
Head coach Norman Black is simply relieved his team survived Kia, which capped its fightback by taking an 81-78 lead in the fourth period.
“When they took the lead in the fourth there’s a possibility we might lose the game,” noted Black.
“It’s been a roller coaster ride, so I’ll take the win. I’m happy with the win,” added Black.
The loss officially took Kia out of the playoffs hunt after it absorbed a ninth straight loss in 10 games.
The Sorento came into the game hoping for a win that would set it up with a do-or-die match against NLEX for 10th place on Sunday, but the loss rendered that game moot and the Road Warriors now have a free ticket to the playoffs.
Not after a gallant by Kia that saw it charging back from a 41-63 deficit and taking the lead for the first time at 72-71.
Most likely drawing inspiration from their playing-coach, the Sorento were still within 93-96 before failing to bring home what they did so spectacularly in the third period, when they outscored the Bolts, 33-12.
Like what he did on opening day Oct. 19 Pacquiao saw action in the first seven minutes of the game, grabbing two rebounds but missing his first two attempts as a pro cage player and committing a passing error.
The eight-division world boxing champion spent the rest of the game egging his team on and almost bore fruits.
“In the last five minutes I told the players, ‘We have two options: let this go or let’s keep our composure and regain control of the game,’” related Black. “I’m really glad my players responded.”
Meralco’s bench was a big factor as Anthony wound up with 14 points and nine rebounds, John Wilson added 11, Gary David 10 and Mark Macapagal scattering six of his eight points in the fourth period.
Reil Cervantes scored a team-high 18 points laced by three triples while Eloy Poligrates, LA Revilla and Hyram Bagatsing also scored in double figures.
Hans Thiele narrowly missed his own double digits after missing a short stab off a challenge by Dillinger and Anthony all but iced the game with a charity that pegged a 97-93 count, only 30.6 ticks left.
So fired up were the Bolts that they hardly missed the services of veteran forward Reynel Hugnatan (knee strain) and point guards Simon Atkins (hamstring strain) and Anjo Caram (sprain). (NC)
The scores:
Meralco 99 — Dillinger 25, Hodge 17, Anthony 14, Wilson 11, David 10, Macapagal 8, Morrison 4, Cortez 3, Ferriols 3, Ildefonso 2, Sena 2, Buenafe 0, Guevarra 0.
Kia 93 — Cervantes 18, Poligrates 11, Revilla 10, Bagatsing 10, Thiele 9, Alvarez 8, Pascual 8, Dehesa 7, Custodio 6, Webb 4, Burtscher 3, Pacquiao 0, Buensuceso 0.
Quarterscores: 34-19; 60-39; 73-72; 99-93.
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