THE MERALCO Bolts recovered from a slow start, using a sizzling third-quarter run to turn back the struggling Blackwater Elite, 87-72, last night in the 40th PBA Governors’ Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.
It was Meralco’s third win against the same number of defeats, while Blackwater dropped farther to the bottom of the standings with its fifth loss in six games.
Import Andre Emmett top scored for the Bolts with 17 points but it was the timely scoring of Gary David that bailed Meralco out of a big upset.
Averaging just 8.6 points a game in the tournament, David finished with 16 points, eight coming in the third period, where the Bolts completed their rally from a 12-point deficit and went up, 63-56, with one quarter left to play.
Jared Dillinger and Asian import Seiya Ando had 12 points each, while Sean Anthony contributed 10 for the Bolts.
Marcus Douthit tallied 15 markers for the Elite. Cebuano guard Brian Heruela was the lone Blackwater to score in doubles figures with 12.
Meanwhile, the league meted Barako Bull’s Rico Maierhofer a P20,000 fine for a using a shoe in blocking an opponent’s shot in the Energy Colas’ 113-116 loss to the San Miguel Beermen last Wednesday.