Bolts rip Aces apart
AMER DRAINS SIX TREYS IN 27-POINT EFFORT
Baser Amer caught fire to spark a searing third-quarter assault that provided the juice to the Meralco Bolts’ 101-75 romp over Alaska Milk last night in the PBA Governors’ Cup at the MOA Arena.
Amer rifled in 14 points spiked by a four-of-five clip from down town in the game-changing third, enabling the Bolts to rip the game apart, 70-52, en route to a bounce-back victory to their 99-105 loss to NLEX and 2-1 overall for a share of fourth with idle Columbian Dyip.
The former San Beda standout finished with 27 markers on a 6-of11 marksmanship from long range, to go with four assists, his hot game complemented by Allen Durham’s near triple-double output of 25-159 and Raymond Almazan’s 15 and nine.
“We consider this a good bounceback win coming off our loss to NLEX. Our defense in the second half was very, very good, particularly in the third. And combine that with the fact that Baser Amer got really hot from the three-point range, and we’re able to separate in the third,” said Bolts coach Norman Black.
With Amer on target, Durham and Almazan got more space to operate in the interior, anchoring Meralco’s 38 markers from the shaded lane.
“Game always becomes easier when you can make your three-point shots. Baser breaking loose today and hitting a lot of shots really opened the game up for us,” said Black.
In the second game, defending champion Magnolia squandered a 10-point lead but survived a late scare, escaping past Rain or Shine, 69-68.
Romeo Travis banged in 26 points on top of 14 rebounds, and made one clutch steal that led to Marc Barroca’s split at the 58-second mark and eventually ensured the Hotshots’ back-to-back wins.
It was a defense-oriented game, where the E-Painters failed to buy a basket in the opening period, marking the first time in PBA history a team had no field goal in a quarter.
RoS slipped to 1-3. The scores: First Game Meralco 101 – Amer 27, Durham 25, Almazan 15, Newsome 9, Hugnatan 5, Quinto 4, Jamito 4, Salva 4, Quinto 4, Faundo 2, Pinto 2, Canaleta 0, Jackson 0, Tolomia 0.
Alaska 75 – Banchero 12, Enciso 12, Tratter 9, Thoss 9, Casio 9, Ayaay 8, Manuel 8, House 8, Galliguez 0. Quarterscores: 20-22, 43-37, 72-61, 101-75 Second Game Magnolia 69 – Travis 26, Sangalang 8, Barroca 8, Lee 7, Reavis 6, Dela Rosa 5, Jalalon 4, Melton 3, Pingris 2, Brondial 0, Herndon 0.
Rain or Shine 68 – Mocon 14, Locke 13, Belga 9, Borboran 7, Yap 6, Exciminiano 5, Daquioag 5, Ponferada 3, Norwood 2, Nambatac 2, Torres 2, Rosales 0, Onwubere 0.
Quarterscores: 11-6, 32-25, 47-52, 69-68