Meralco top RoS
The Meralco Bolts finally put an end to their miseries as they knocked off the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, 82-72, to snap a six-game losing skid and remain in the hunt for a playoff spot in the Oppo PBA Philippine Cup Friday at Cuneta Astrodome.
Chris Newsome paced the Bolts with 19 points, 15 of which came in the second half, while Cliff Hodge collected 17 points and 16 boards for the Bolts (3-7) who pumped some life into their slim quarterfinal hopes.
With just one game left on its schedule, Meralco needs to win its remaining game and hope that other teams above them, namely Ginebra, Alaska and Star, drop some games for the Bolts to have a shot at a playoff ticket.
Meralco leaned on its hot start to beat Rain or Shine. Hodge and Jonathan Uyloan, who finished with 14 points, outscored the whole Rain or Shine squad in the first period, combining for 21 points to propel the Bolts to a 35-20 lead.Rain or Shine tried to mount a comeback several times but Newsome and the rest of the Bolts had an answer to every run by the Elasto Painters.
James Yap tried to carry Rain or Shine in its one last push after nailing a triple that trimmed their deficit to eight, 77-69, with 3:35 remaining.
The Elasto Painters forced a couple of stops, but Jericho Cruz couldn’t convert on two crucial possessions.
Uyloan sank the dagger trey with 47 seconds left to ice the Meralco victory.
Yap scored 17 points for Rain or Shine (5-4) which suffered its second straight defeat.—InterAksyon.com