MERALCO snapped a two-game losing skid by overcoming Eastern, 88-83, on Sunday in the PBA 49th Season Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
Akil Mitchell led the way with with 31 points, 14 rebounds, five assists, and seven steals while Meralco's vaunted defense finally showed up as Eastern’s 83 points was the least the Bolts conceded this conference.
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Meralco improved to 4-2 while dealing Eastern just its third loss in nine games – but its second in its last three matches.
“I thought our guys were tough today, chasing off screens, bigs having to stay high, and execute our pick-and-roll defense, and having to move back and defend,” said Meralco coach Luigi Trillo.
“This type of games we live for because it shows our character. Kapag natatalo ka ng two games, it’s easy to pinpoint, finger push. But I thought they were great,” Trillo added.
Mitchell exploded for 18 points in the third quarter to give Meralco hold a slim 69-67 lead entering the final canto.
Meralco also limited Glen Yang, one of the top players of Eastern this conference, to two points as he was saddled with foul trouble all game.
The Bolts put the game away with a 9-5 finishing kick behind a defense highlighted by a diving steal by Cliff Hodge that drew cheers from the fans at the Big Dome in the PBA’s first game of 2025.
Chris McLaughlin had 28 points and 18 rebounds, while Kobey Lam added 16 points for the Hong Kong-based guest team.
The scores:
Meralco 88 – Mitchell 31, Quinto 16, Newsome 9, Black 9, Hodge 6, Banchero 6, Caram 4, Torres 3, Bates 2, Cansino 2, Rios 0, Almazan 0, Reyson 0.
Eastern 83 – McLaughlin 28, Lam 16, Guinchard 13, Blankley 12, Cao 5, Cheung 3, Chan 2, Yang 2, Pok 2, Leung 0, Xu 0.
Quarters: 19-15; 39-36; 69-67; 88-83.
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