ANTIPOLO – Meralco outlasted Rain or Shine, 121-111, on Sunday in a grindout all-Filipino showdown in the PBA 49th Season Commissioner’s Cup at the Ynares Center.
The Bolts endured the premature departure of Akil Mitchell due to a nose injury suffered just 11 seconds into the game to beat the Elasto Painters, who started the game without reinforcement Deon Thompson due to his lack of a special work permit.
Meralco coach Luigi Trillo said Mitchell likely suffered a broken nose, raising a question on why a foul wasn't called in the play.
READ Why Meralco, Rain or Shine were left with all-Filipino lineups
Action got heated even in the sidelines with Meralco active consultant Nenad Vucinic, Rain or Shine head coach Yeng Guiao, and player Beau Belga getting into a verbal argument at the 8:10-mark of the fourth quarter. All three were given technical fouls.
The Bolts recorded their second win in as many outings, joining Eastern and NorthPort at the top of the standings.
Chris Newsome had his usual numbers of 25 points, but a lot of players stepped up for Meralco in the absence of Mitchell, who sustained a broken nose after he was hit inadvertently by Keith Datu while taking a lay-up, adding to the group of Bolts players who are nursing injuries
Bong Quinto exploded for 20 points including six in the fourth quarter for the Bolts. Second stringers Jansen Rios and Norbert Torres also chipped in with 16 and 13 apiece with Torres making eight in the fourth quarter.
Raymond Almazan had 12 points and 16 rebounds, while Cliff Hodge also had a double-double of 11 points and 11 rebounds.
READ: Nenad verbal tussle with Belga, Guiao played down
“New, Bong are the usual suspects but even si Jansen played well, Raymond played well. We needed those guys to step up dahil kulang kami,” said Meralco coach Luigi Trillo.
Datu had 17 points and four rebounds, while Adrian Nocum had 15 points. Santi Santillan had 14 points, while Jhonard Clarito chipped in 13 points and 11 rebounds for Rain or Shine.
The closest the Elasto Painters got was at 105-101, but Torres nailed a three-point play to respond, scoring on a reverse lay-up to end their momentum.
The scores:
Meralco 121 – Newsome 25, Quinto 20, Rios 16, Torres 13, Almazan 12, Hodge 11, Caram 10, Black 9, Jose 2, Pascual 2, Pasaol 1, Mitchell 0.
Rain or Shine 111 – Datu 17, Nocum 15, Santillan 14, Clarito 13, Tiongson 12, Caracut 11, Lemetti 9, Belga 6, Norwood 5, Malonzo 5, Ildefonso 2, Demusis 2.
Quarters: 33-25; 52-49; 89-81; 121-111.
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