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Meralco got off to a hot start, sputtered in the middle, then restored order to clinch a 93-81 victory over Alaska in the PBA Philippine Cup at the AUF Gym in Angeles, Pampanga.
With the Bolts sharing the ball well, the points came from almost every member of the team.
Allein Maliksi led the balanced score with 17 points, Baser Amer had 15 points, while Reynel Hugnatan and Cliff Hodge had 13 and 11, respectively. All 11 Bolts that saw action scored.
It was an improvement over the debacle of the team’s first game. The Bolts had 22 assists this time and exploited the paint early on with Hugnatan, Hodge and Raymar Jose attacking the basket aggressively.
As a result, the team achieved its first victory after the loss to Phoenix in the first game.
“I think we have more confidence in coach Norman Black’s system,” Maliksi said during the exit interview. “We calmed down. We were a little excited during our first game because we couldn’t play ball in a long time.”
Maliksi let his game get to him. He made 6 of 9 shots from the field or 66 percent while taking just two shots from beyond the arc. No player in an orange jersey was forcing shots.
“I just need to be patient on offense and let the game come to me. That’s the advice the coaches gave me and it worked,” Maliksi said.
The Bolts were ahead the entire game, and the Aces only gave them a scare early in the third period. With lead man Vic Manuel and Mike DiGregorio fighting mightily to find their touch, Jeron Teng carried most of the load and led a 12-0 run to start third and erase a 14-point deficit.
With 4:58 remaining, DiGregorio scored on a three-point play to tie it at 52 overall. Meralco, however, was quick to regain control. A couple of Aaron Black baskets, including a booming trey, put coal in Meralco’s steam engine and it was all Bolts from there.
Teng finished with 25 points for the Aces, who were winless after two games in Clark’s bubble.
Vic Manuel had 18 points, but was a lousy 8 of 21 from the field. Robbie Herndon added 8 points.
THE SCORES
Meralco 93- Amer 15, Maliksi 17, Hugnatan 13, Hodge 11, Black 8, Jose 6, Newsome 6, Quinto 5, Almazan 5, Pinto 5, Faundo 2
Alaska 81- Teng 25, Manuel 18, Herndon 8, Publico 8, Tratter 6, DiGregorio 6, Brondial 5, Galliguez 3, Ayaay 2, Andrada 0, Casio 0, Ebona 0
Quarterscores: 29-23, 49-35, 65-58, 93-81
ADDITIONAL JARS
– Raymond Almazan, sporting a new hairstyle, finally saw action for Meralco for the first time in the bubble. He scored his first points, a three-point play, at the 1:53 mark in the first quarter and finished with 5 points and 5 rebounds in 9:37 in playing time.
– Alaska rookie Rey Público made a decent debut in the PBA, scoring 8 points and grabbing a rebound in his first game.
– Mike DiGregorio was off track. He finished with a disappointing 6 points on 1 of 11 shooting.
NEXT GAMES
Meralco – Geneva on October 18
Alaska – vs. Magnolia on October 17
