MERALCO clinched twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals after routing import-less Terrafirma, 113-69, on Friday in the PBA 50th Season Commissioner's Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The Bolts sealed their place in the Top Four with the 44-point victory over a also-ran Dyip side that was left to play with an all-local lineup after import Mubashar Ali was ruled out due to a bad case of food poisoning.
READ Terrafirma says import Mubashar Ali out due to food poisoning
Meralco improved to 8-3 (win-loss) heading into their final game of the eliminations against Magnolia on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena as the Dyip rounded out another disappointing conference with a 4-8 slate.
Meralco trailed just once when Terrafirma scored the first point of the game before the Bolts stepped on the gas behind seven players who all scored in double digits.
The 44-point win was the biggest in franchise history, according to PBA statistics chief Fidel Mangonon.
“Terrafirma didn't play with their import so this kind of game, they are already out. We just have to take care of our business,” said Meralco coach Luigi Trillo. “I think we did well in the first half. In the second half, we continued to do that.”
Marvin Jones played for just 13 minutes and two seconds, topscoring with 14 points along with Chris Newsome. CJ Cansino had 13 points, and Brandon Bates had 11 points and 12 rebounds for the Bolts.
Paolo Hernandez had 15 points and six rebounds, but the absence of Ali was too much too overcome as the Dyip fell behind, 37-20, by the end of the first quarter.
The scores:
Meralco 113 – Jones 14, Newsome 14, Cansino 13, Quinto 11, Bates 11, Mocon 11, Banchero 10, Maliksi 8, Caram 5, Hodge 4, Magbuhos 4, Pascual 3, Rios 3, Comia 2, Brickman 0, Black 0.
Terrafirma 69 – Hernandez 15, M. Ahanmisi 12, Chiu 10, Bravo 10, J. Ahanmisi 6, Adamos 5, Umali 4, Hanapi 3, Paraiso 2, Garcia 2, Catapusan 0, Zaldivar 0.
Quarters: 37-20; 61-42; 89-53; 113-69.
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