[ad_1]
Meralco, bound for the playoffs, wrapped up his 2020 PBA Philippine Cup knockout round by fending off an eliminated NorthPort team, 80-73, on Wednesday at the Angeles University Foundation Sports Stadium and Cultural Center.
Ahead of as much as 19 in the fourth quarter, Meralco’s offense stalled, forcing the team to guard against a late rally by a Batang pier team that wanted to end a bleak campaign on a positive note on the final day of your season.
Kevin Ferrer and Renzo Subido hit back-to-back triples to cut the lead to five before Paolo Taha capped a 13-0 rally with an alley-oop finish to help NorthPort get closer to 76-73 with 1:57 to play.
NorthPort, however, missed a pair of 3-pointers and couldn’t produce anything down the stretch, and an assist from Baser Amer to an easy layup by Raymon Almazan later gave the Bolts a five-point margin that they would hold to last. doorbell.
Chris Newsome then capped things off for Meralco with a pair of free throws.
Bong Quinto had a great third quarter and scored 14 points and eight rebounds for the Bolts, who will carry a 7-4 win-loss record on their way to the quarterfinals.
Newsome and Almazan pitched 11 apiece, while Amer and Trevis Jackson finished with 10.
Meralco will make his first quarter-final appearance in the All-Filipino Cup since coach Norman Black’s first conference with the team in 2015.
The Bolts, however, are not in the race for the last four spots and will have to wait for the results of the other games this afternoon to find out where they will place in the first round of the playoffs.
NorthPort will come out of the bubble with six straight losses and a 1-10 record.
Jervy Cruz led the Batang pier with 15 points and 17 rebounds. Taha and Kelly Nabong added 14 each.
