ANTIPOLO - Meralco survived Magnolia in overtime, 105-102, on Saturday in a game where both teams traded big shots after the other to advance to the semifinals of the PBA 50th Season Commissioner’s Cup.
Bong Quinto knocked down a fadeaway with 37.9 seconds left to regain the lead, 102-100, for Meralco after Jerom Lastimosa made two free throws for Magnolia on the previous play.
Magnolia was unable to answer as Lastimosa split his pair of free throws with 23.5 seconds, which proved to be Magnolia’s last stand with CJ Cansino making two free throws to widen the gap with 21.1 seconds.
The Bolts preserved the lead eventually for a place in the semifinals where they will face either TNT or NLEX.
Meralco finished its conference with a 1-2 win-loss record against Magnolia, but that solitary victory was the one that mattered to clinch a spot in the semifinals.
Meralco had to earn the win even after Magnolia played all-Filipino in the final stretch when Clint Chapman fouled out with 4:21 left in the fourth.
The Bolts also escaped after Lastimosa's big-time performance where he scored 28 points and sent the game into overtime after a lay-up with 9.2 seconds left in regulation, 92-92.
The Bolts had a 96-92 lead to start the extra session on back-to-back baskets by Quinto but Lastimosa answered with two consecutive shots of his own.
Meralco coach Luigi Trillo began the postgame press conference by congratulating Magnolia and his counterpart LA Tenorio.
“LA has done a really good job with Magnolia, his coaching staff, and you have to commend that. On our end, it's our ninth conference with Coach Nenad (Vucinic). We made the semis back-to-back. I think of those nine conference, we made the quarterfinals every time. It's a testament to the way the boys are responding,” said Trillo.
Marvin Jones had 28 points and nine rebounds, and Chris Newsome had 10 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter including a three that got Meralco to its biggest lead, 82-76.
Chapman had 26 points, while Mark Barroca scored 22 points and five assists for Magnolia.
The scores:
Meralco 105 – Jones 28, Newsome 18, Cansino 16, Hodge 14, Quinto 11, Mocon 7, Brickman 6, Banchero 2, Black 2, Bates 1.
Magnolia 102 – Lastimosa 28, Chapman 26, Barroca 22, Lee 8, Sangalang 6, Gomez de Liano 6, Lucero 4, Dela Rosa 2, Alfaro 0, Andrada 0.
Quarters: 19-22; 44-47; 70-72; 92-92; 105-102.
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