Butch sizzles as Meralco zaps Alaska

Bryan Butch outperformed reigning Best Import Rob Dozier and rookie guard Anjo Caram seized the moment in playing the spot of injured teammates as Meralco pulled the rug from under titleholder Alaska Milk, 85-76, in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last night.

Butch drained six triples and finished with game highs of 27 points, 17 rebounds, two steals and two blocks while Caram played well in setting the plays as the Bolts sprang back from a 76-94 blowout by the San Miguel Beermen in their tournament debut.

Reynel Hugnatan, Gary David and Clifford Hodge contributed double- digit outputs to help the Bolts score some measure of revenge against the team that knocked them out in a do-or-die battle for the last playoff spot in the last Philippine Cup.

Meralco tied Air21, Barako Bull and Barangay Ginebra at 1-1 while Alaska fell to 1-2.

“We did a good job competing today despite our obvious lack of arsenal because of injured players. We’re able to do the job because of defense,” said Meralco coach Ryan Gregorio.

“We found a way to beat the defending champs and that’s a welcome development after losing badly against San Miguel Beer,” Gregorio also said.

The sterling efforts put up by Butch and Caram were not lost on the Meralco bench chieftain.

“(Outside shooting) is really his strength. He’s a floor spacer, allowing the other guys to penetrate because of better spacing inside,” said Gregorio of their 6-foot-10 import with a soft shooting touch.

Caram, the lone rookie signed up by Meralco in the season, stepped up in the absence of Mike Cortez and Jared Dillinger.

“Nice sight for a player who’s supposed to be sitting farthest on the bench. He seized the day and did that magnificently,” said Gregorio.

The former San Beda stalwart delivered some clutch plays and wound up with seven points, three rebounds and three assists in what’s easily his best game in the pros.