Meralco holds off Blackwater
Games Today
(DHVSU Gym, Bacolor)
2 p.m. — Rain or Shine vs NorthPort 4:35 p.m. — Magnolia vs San Miguel 7 p.m. — Terrafirma vs Alaska
Meralco kept an inside track on the second twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals while forcing Blackwater to set a new record for futility after holding on for a 104-97 win yesterday in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Don Honorio Ventura State University in Bacolor, Pampanga.
The Bolts led by as many as 29 points before staving off a big fightback from the Bossing, who got to within five in the final two minutes, to keep their hold on second spot with their seventh win in nine matches.
Blackwater, which ended the campaign by failing to win in all 11 matches, suffered its 19th straight loss to erase the previous mark of 18 set by the Great Taste/Presto Fun Drinks franchise during the 1980 season.
Allein Maliksi celebrated his 34th birthday by scoring 21 points as Meralco moved a win from getting the quarterfinal bonus by extending its lead on second place to a half-game over Magnolia Pambansang Manok and one clear of San Miguel Beer.
Magnolia, in third at 7-3, and fourth-running San Miguel, with a 6-3 slate, square off today in the middle game of a tripleheader at 4:35 p.m. with the loser possibly getting relegated to a best-of-three quarterfinal series.
Both San Miguel Corporation teams are coming off contrasting victories to stay within striking distance of the Bolts for the quarterfinal bonus.
Magnolia escaped past NorthPort, 90-89, two days ago after Calvin Abueva scored a basket at the buzzer while San Miguel walloped Phoenix Super LPG, 110-80, in the most lopsided game since the restart.
NorthPort tries to bounce back from that sorry loss and boost its quarterfinals bid against Rain or Shine in the 2 p.m. opener.
The Elasto Painters, coming off victories against the Hotshots and Beermen for a 6-4 card, look to wrap up their elimination round campaign with a win and gain some momentum into the quarters.
Alaska takes on Terrafirma in the final match of the three-game bill at 7 p.m., hoping to claim a victory to enhance its own quarterfinal hopes.
A day after a shock 89-75 rout of Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, the Aces played the league-leading TNT Tropang Giga at presstime in the second of a schedule of games in three straight days.
Terrafirma is a long shot to make the playoffs after four straight losses sent its record to 3-7.
The scores:
MERALCO 104 — Maliksi 21, Almazan 15, Jackson 14, Hugnatan 14, Quinto 10, Belo 8,
Caram 8, Pasaol 7, Baclao 6, Jamito 1, Pinto 0.
BLACKWATER 97 — Canaleta 15, Tolomia 15, Escoto 15, Enciso 14, Torralba 12, Cruz 4, Daquioag 9, Magat 8, Golla 3, Dennison 2, Desiderio 0. Quarters: 31-14, 61-38, 85-71, 104-97.