MERALCO finally got on track in the PBA Commissioner's Cup after notching its first win at the expense of Terrafirma, 105-92, Friday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Meralco vs Terrafirma recap
Import Johnny O'Bryant finished with another double-double of 31 points and 11 rebounds, while Allein Maliksi and Bong Quinto added 18 and 17 points respetively for the Bolts, who lost their first two games prior to the win.
Deputy Luigi Trillo called the shots for Meralco in the absence of coach Norman Black (health and safety protocols).
“They (Dyip) were attacking our pick and roll, and they were taking as one-on-one,” noted Trillo as Terrafirma controlled the game early on and even led by five late in the second period.
“So we just regrouped and I thought our offense was a little bit all over the place noong first half, a little bit na nagkakanya-kanya,” he added. “And then when the ball was moving and there was a bit more flow, I think we were able to operate our offense, so they share the ball.”
The Bolts actually, managed to pull away and make a total separation between them and the Dyip during the fourth quarter when Maliksi, Quinto, and O’Bryant came through behind a 10-2 run to give the team a 96-82 lead.
Terrafirma remained winless in four games and is now 0-20 dating back to the Philippine Cup bubble in Bacolor,Pampanga
The losing streak is the second longest in PBA history after the 0-29 of Blackwater.
The setbck put to naught another monster numbers of import Lester Prosper with 35 points and 18 rebounds.
The scores
Meralco (105) -- O’Bryant 31, Maliksi 18, Quinto 17, Black 17, Banchero 12, Almazan 8, Hodge 2, Johnson 0, Caram 0, Pasaol 0, Pascual 0, Jose 0.
Terrafirma (92) -- Prosper 35, Tiongson 11, Gomez de Liano 11, Camson 11, Cabagnot 10, Munzon 8, Calvo 2, Alolino 2, Gabayni 2, Cahilig 0, Javelona 0, Mina 0, Balagasay 0.
Quarterscores: 26-27; 55-52; 79-76; 105-92.