NLEX, Meralco gain ‘incentive’
ANTIPOLO – NLEX performed a “Miracle in Antipolo” while Meralco kept its streak going as the quarterfinals-bound Road Warriors and Bolts clinched twice-to-beat incentives in the PBA Governors’ Cup last night at Ynares Center here.
The Road Warriors trailed by as many as 26 points in the first half but unleashed a furious endgame fightback led by Manny Harris and capped by the go-ahead putback by Jericho Cruz to pick up a dramatic 86-85 verdict over Magnolia for their eighth win in nine games and the top spot.
For its part, Meralco leaned on the 30-point explosion of backup guard Anjo Caram to clobber NorthPort, 103-89, and assure itself of the win-once quarters bonus with its 8-2 card.
Harris banged in 12 of his 22 points in the payoff period, fuelling NLEX as it slowly chipped away Magnolia’s 14-point upperhand and outran its opponents in an exciting race to the finish on Kiefer Ravena’s split and Cruz’s gutsy follow-up with one second left.
“We had a really bad start but the guys made up for it,” said NLEX coach Yeng Guiao, whose wards did an encore of their famous comeback victory over Barangay Ginebra in an earlier outing in Dubai.
“I almost gave up in the first half, thinking maybe a loss would be good for us, let us know we’re not that good yet. But the boys simply refused to lose.”
Earlier, Caram stepped up while top gunner Baser Amer wasn’t 100 percent, pouring in a career-high 30 highlighted by a sizzling 11-of-15 (73.3 percent) marksmanship to spark the Bolts to their fifth consecutive triumph.
Allen Durham posted 26-19-3 while Chris Newsome added 17-7-3 and Raymond Almazan contributed 8-7 in Meralco’s latest conquest.
“Anjo Caram was just awesome tonight. He really gave us a big lift and pretty much guided us to this victory,” said Meralco coach Norman Black of the former San Beda ace, who came off the bench to relieve the still-recovering Amer (groin) and punish the NorthPort defense with his sniping. The scores: First Game Meralco 103 – Caram 30, Durham 26, Newsome 17, Almazan 8, Pinto 8, Maliksi 6, Faundo 4, Hugnatan 2, Amer 2, Quinto 0, Jackson 0, Jose 0, Hodge 0, Jamito 0.
NorthPort 89 – Qualls 27, Standhardinger 20, Anthony 19, Mercado 9, Lanete 8, Taha 3, Ferrer 3, Elorde 0, Cruz 0, King 0, Escoto 0. Quarterscores: 20-23, 50-45, 72-69, 103-89 Second Game NLEX 86 – Harris 22, Quinahan 14, Cruz 13, Erram 7, Ravena 7, Galanza 6, Paniamogan 5, Soyud 4, Ighalo 4, Miranda 4, Baguio 0, Fonacier 0.
Magnolia 85 – Lee 24, Sangalang 19, Travis 13, Barroca 10, Banchero 7, Pingris 5, Melton 4, Abundo 3, Reavis 0, Dela Rosa 0.
Quarterscores: 16-39, 29-51, 57-71, 86-85