BONG Quinto took over early in overtime before Allein Maliksi sealed the victory as Meralco beat Rain or Shine, 121-117, on Saturday in the PBA 48th Season Philippine Cup at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
Quinto converted the Bolts’ first seven points in the extra period to finish with 16 points and on their way to their first victory of the conference after being upset by Blackwater on opening day.
Maliksi scored a team-high 26 points including a three that increased Meralco’s lead to eight points, 112-104, with 2:58 left in the extra period.
Maliksi also nailed a free throw with 7.5 seconds left in the game to settle the final score and weather a late Rain or Shine comeback.
Rain or Shine fell to 0-2 early in its Philippine Cup campaign.
Frustration boiled over for Elasto Painters coach Yeng Guiao after he was ejected for two successive technical fouls with 52.1 seconds remaining in the game.
“Rain or Shine doesn’t have any quit. Lamang na kami, they kept on battling, in fact, they got the lead,” said Meralco coach Luigi Trillo. “We were in a dogfight… We knew that a coach Yeng Guiao teams, they don’t know how to quit and no lead is safe.”
Cliff Hodge and Chris Newsome had their usual numbers with 16 points apiece, but Newsome fouled out in the contest.
Substitutes Norbert Torres and Anjo Caram, however, stepped up with 16 and 13 points apiece with Caram scoring 11 in the fourth quarter.
“Ang maganda dito, New fouled out but other guys stepped up. Next man up. Bong Quinto played well, Allein Maliksi played well, credit also to Anjo Caram. He came out and held the fort,” said Trillo.
The scores:
Meralco 121 – Maliksi 26, Quinto 16, Hodge 16, Newsome 16, Torres 16, Caram 13, Black 6, Pascual 5, Mendoza 4, Rios 2, Pasaol 1, Banchero 0, Jose 0.
Rain or Shine 117 – Nocum 29, Santillan 25, Mamuyac 15, Datu 9, Clarito 9, Belga 9, Caracut 8, Norwood 6, Belo 3, Borboran 2, Demusis 2, Ildefonso 0.
Quarters: 28-20; 49-42; 80-77; 102-102; 121-117.
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.
