Sunday gifts Meralco with miracle victory
EVERYBODY knows Sunday Salvacion has the skill to hit three-pointers from all angles. Last night, he proved it in a big way again.
Salvacion banked in a buzzer-beating three and Meralco repulsed Globalport, 9089, in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The high-arching shot that trickled in just as time expired completed the rise of the Bolts from 12 points down midway in the fourth and turned in handsome dividends for coach Ryan Gregorio, who fielded in Salvacion in the game for the first time in the conference.
“He has not seen the floor the past three games, I made a gamble and it paid off,” said Gregorio, after the Bolts bounced back from a Petron setback and pulled even with Globalport with two victories and three losses.
“If there’s anyone doubting that there’s a God, that shot just proved there is,” added Gregorio.
Denzel Bowles got his rhythm back after a sub-par outing to power San Mig Coffee to its first victory of the conference at the expense of Talk N Text, 90-82.
Bowles, the Best Import who led the Mixers to the Commissioner’s Cup title last season, scored seven of his team’s last nine points and finished with 29 points and 23 rebounds.
The Tropang Texters, who led 68-63 entering the fourth period, suddenly turned sluggish and fell to their second defeat in four games. The Mixers improved to 1-3.
Salvacion drilled in six of seven threepointers and had 20 points while putting the cuffs on Gary David in the closing minutes.
Sizzling hot from long range, David flubbed his last two shots with Salvacion in his face and finished with 27 points in Globalport’s third defeat in five games.
The Batang Pier opened an 80-68 lead after successive threes by David and Jaypee Be- lencion. Willie Miller also struck with another three after the Bolts came within eight halfway through the quarter and Globalport seemed headed for an easy win. But the Bolts came charging back as Mac Cardona sank his free throws off Sol Mercado, slicing down Globalport’s lead, 89-87, with 36.3 seconds left. The scores: First Game MERALCO 90— Salvacion 20, Dawson 19, Hodge 16, Cardona 15, Hugnatan 7, Manuel 4, Buenafe 4, Guevarra 3, Ross 2, Reyes 0, Artadi 0.
GLOBALPORT 89— David 27, Miller 22, Belencion 15, Aguilar 12, Mercado 6, Williams 5, Mandani 2, Yee 0, Salvador 0, Crisano 0. Quarters: 17-24, 43-48, 66-67, 90-89 Second Game SAN MIG COFFEE 90— Bowles 29, Simon 13, Pingris 12, Devance 11, Barroca 9, Yap 6, Gaco 4, Najorda 2, Reavis 2, De Ocampo 2, Mallari 0.
TALK ‘N TEXT 82— Castro 18, Benson 16, Reyes 14, Alapag 8, Al-Hussaini 7, Fonacier 6, Williams 4, Carey 4, Dillinger 3, De Ocampo 2, Aban 0.
Quarters: 17-17, 44-41, 63-68, 90-82