Bolts steer Dyip to 1st loss
Arinze Onuaku came out of a two-day hospital confinement due to bum stomach and strutted his usual stuff as Meralco subdued Columbian Dyip, 116-103, in the second play date of the PBA Commissioner ’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last night.
Onuaku showed his old form as a former Best Import awardee, powering his way to 30 points, 19 rebounds, six assists, four blocks and three steals as the Bolts got to a winning start in the mid-season tourney coming from a poor 11th place finish in the Philippine Cup.
“My hats off to Arinze because he’s been sick and hasn’t practiced in the last two days. He came basically straight from the hospital. But he played very well,” said Meralco coach Norman Black.
“He’s not just sick but tired, but he came out and provided us the inside presence and low-post plays that we lacked in the all-Filipino,” Black added.
Despite his condition, the 2016 Commissioner’s Cup Best Import remained an immovable figure in the paint, scoring 30 points on a remarkable 14-of-15 field clip.
Chris Newsome, Nico Salva, KG Canaleta and Jared Dillinger provided the needed support as the Bolts stopped the Columbian Dyip squad coming off a smashing 126-98 winning debut against Blackwater Sunday.
Charles Aiken showed a big improvement from his mere nine-point against the Elite, coming through with 21 points and 18 rebounds as he led Columbian Dyip’s tough stand against Meralco.
Aiken and his teammates set the pace most of the first half, even enjoying a 10-point lead at 41-31 in the second period before Meralco found its rhythm at resumption of the contest. “We didn’t know what to expect as we’d been off for a long while after getting eliminated in the Philippine Cup. Then there’s Arinze’s sickness. But we eventually gained our bearing,” said Black. Still trailing at the start of the second half, 56-57, the Bolts leaned on the effort of Onuaku, Newsome, Dillinger, Canaleta and Salva as they surged ahead, 85-79, through the third then cruised through in the fourth. Canaleta saw action only in the second half but made a big impact with 4-of-8 three-pointers to help fuel their breakaway. James White bucked cramps and delivered key plays at the finish as Phoenix Petroleum weathered Blackwater’s determined rally, pulling off a 107-102 win later in the night. “It’s been our problem from last conference. It’s a hard win but will take it,” said Phoenix coach Louie Alas as they nearly blew away a 22-point lead.