ALVARK Tokyo handed Meralco its second defeat, 84-73, on Friday in the Fiba Asia Champions Cup at the Stadium 29 in Nonthaburi, Thailand.
Alex Kirk had 23 points and 11 rebounds while Daiki Tanaka had 17 points for Alvark Tokyo, which put on a fitting follow-up to its big win over reigning champion Sporting Al Riyadi Beirut the day before.
Allen Durham carried the fight for Meralco in the fourth quarter to no avail as the Bolts slipped to 0-2, their chances of making it to the semifinals flickering away.
A win by Mono Vampire over Al Riyadi in the second game of the quadruple header on Friday will formally boot Meralco out of semifinal contention.
Despite trailing by as many as 11 points, Meralco was able to tie the game at 60 after Durham and Amer hit back-to-back baskets. But Alvark countered with its own 6-0 run capped by a lay-up by Tanaka to regain control.
Tanaka nailed a triple with 3:09 left to open a 75-66 lead for Alvark, which beat Al Riyadi, 87-76, on Thursday to open its campaign in the tournament.
Durham had 31 points, 12 rebounds, and two blocks, while Diamond Stone had 28 points and eight rebounds for the Bolts, who got a total of 14 points from a local crew left without Craig Hodge, Chris Newsome, Jared Dillinger, and Ranidel de Ocampo.
Meralco will go up against Al Riyadi on Saturday night, also at the Stadium 29 in Nonthaburi.
The scores:
Alvark Tokyo 84 – Kirk 23, Tanaka 17, Kojima 12, Ando 9, Bjelica 8, Takeuchi 8, Baba 6, Kikuchi 1, Saito 0, Shonaka 0.
Meralco 73 – Durham 31, Stone 28, Hugnatan 6, Amer 5, Lanete 3, Canaleta 0, Jamito 0, Ballesteros 0, Caram 0, Tolomia 0.
Quarters: 19-17; 35-37; 60-56; 84-73.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
