AKIL Mitchell drained a floater with 1.3 seconds left to complete Meralco's comeback over Phoenix, 111-109, on Friday in the PBA 49th Season Commissioner's Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Mitchell's clutch shot completed the Bolts' comeback from 23 points down and claim a win in their first game of the conference while playing without a number of key players led by Allein Maliksi.
Meralco had to dig itself out of a deep hole after its usually-potent defense gave up 73 big points in the first half. The Bolts didn't taste the lead in the game until there was only 2:10 left on a three by Bong Quinto, 106-105.
The Fuelmasters, who suffered their second straight loss, tied the match for the last time, 109-109, on a lay-up by Donovan Smith with 16 seconds left.
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Meralco coach Luigi Trillo admitted active consultant Nenad Vucinic was livid after the Bolts conceded that many points in the first half.
“Credit coach Nenad, he came in there and was talking about the past two, three years, we haven’t (given up) 70 points. Been with Meralco 11 years, we haven’t really given up 70 points,” said Trillo.
Mitchell finished with 27 points on 10-for-19 shooting from the field. The Meralco import also had 13 rebounds, three assists, and six steals in his PBA debut although he had already played for the Bolts in the EASL.
Chris Newsome added 23 points including four in an 8-0 run that gave Meralco a 109-105 lead. Aaron Black had 15 points, while Bong Quinto added 14 points for the Bolts, who also played without Chris Banchero and Brandon Bates.
Smith had 33 points and nine rebounds, while Kai Ballungay made 18 points and seven rebounds for the Fuel Masters, who only had 36 points in the second half.
The scores:
Meralco 111 – Mitchell 27, Newsome 23, Black 15, Quinto 14, Caram 10, Rios 8, Hodge 7, Jose 5, Almazan 2, Pasaol 0.
Phoenix 109 – Smith 33, Ballungay 18, Tio 17, Rivero 14, Perkins 6, Alejandro 6, Jazul 6, Manganti 4, Tuffin 3, Verano 2, Ular 0.
Quarters: 25-36; 54-73; 78-91; 111-109.
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