Games today
Ynares Center, Antipolo City
3:00 p.m.- Barako Bull vs. San Miguel Beer
5:15 p.m.- Brgy. Ginebra vs. Mahindra
After five failed attempts, the Meralco Bolts finally got the job done, notching their first-ever win in the 41st PBA Philippine Cup with an 87-83 victory over the slumping Star Hotshots yesterday at the Cuneta Astrodome.
The Bolts leaned on Gary David’s endgame brilliance to escape with the much-needed victory as the veteran gunner fired 26 points, 11 of them he made in the final eight minutes of the contest.
David hit one shot after another that allowed the Bolts to pull away from a 76-all standoff, taking an 87-79 lead in the closing minutes en route to registering their first win after a 0-5 (win-loss) start.
“We’re much better than a 0-5 team. We practiced much better than a 0-5 team. This team is better than what we’ve shown so far,” said Meralco coach Norman Black.
“Our major problem is that sometimes three guys are on the same page, two are not. Sometimes, two guys are on the same page, three are not,” Black also said.
Star tasted its fourth defeat and fell to ninth spot in the standings.
James Yap paced the Hotshots with 26 points but was held down to just six in the pivotal fourth period.
In the other game, the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters earned a piece of the lead in the team standings when they routed the Blackwater Elite, 103-81.
Rain or Shine tied the Alaska Aces and the San Miguel Beermen at the number spot as they now all sport 4-1 slates.
With the score tied at 16-all, the Elasto Painters racked nine straight points to surge ahead, 25-16.“In the first quarter, we were just trying to find our bearings, but in the second half, we got our momentum, our conditioning back,” said Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao.
Jericho Cruz led the Elasto Painters with a career-high 23 points, while Jewel Ponferrada added 15 marker.
Rookie Art dela Cruz finished with 15 markers to lead Blackwater, which dropped to 1-4.
THE SCORES
FIRST GAME
RAIN OR SHINE (103)- Cruz 23, Ponferrada 15, Belga 12, Quinahan 11, Ahanmisi 8, Almazan 8, Teng 6, Tiu 6, Matias 5, Nimes 4, Chan 3, Trollano 2, Ibanes 0, Norwood 0.
BLACKWATER (81)- Dela Cruz 15, Erram 14, Cervantes 9, Lastimosa 7, Gamalinda 6, Melano 6, Cortez 5, Ballesteros 4, Golla 4, Reyes 4, Sena 3, Agovida 2, Vosotros 2, Canada 0.QUARTERSCORES: 25-16, 47-39, 80-61, 103-81.
SECOND GAME
MERALCO ( 87) – David 26, Al-Hussaini 12, Hugnatan 10, Nabong 9, Newsome 8, Dillinger 6, Hodge 6, Atkins 5, Faundo 5, Amer 0.
STAR (83) – Yap 26, Pingris 13, Sangalang 9, Taha 9, Mallari 8, Simon 8, Barroca 3, Maliksi 3, Melton 2, Pascual J. 2, Pascual R. 0, Torres 0. QUARTERSCORES: 21-24, 43-44, 69-69, 87-83