Meralco notches third win at the expense of NLEX

Gary David of Meralco (dark) vs Macmac Cardona of NLEX (light). NUKI SABIO/PBA

MANILA, Philippines—With a fast-paced attack that put them in the driver seat instantly, the Meralco Bolts rolled down the windows and went to cruise control leaving behind the NLEX Road Warriors, 90-75, to notch their third win in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum Wednesday afternoon.

From the get-go, Meralco’s offense reached its toll against NLEX putting up a quick 18-4 lead more than five minutes to go in the first.

Gary David hit a nifty jumper to cap off the blitz and spark Meralco’s cruise to the finish.

Meralco’s only road block was late into the fourth when the Road Warriors stormed back from a 30-point setback to cut it to 10, 85-75, with veteran big man Asi Taulava splitting a pair of free-throws at the 2:07 mark.

Guard Anjo Caram, though, would regain the order with a nifty breakaway layup off a Reynel Hugnatan outlet to put the boards at 87-75 with two minutes remaining.

Bolts head coach Norman Black said his team just shook off the negativity surrounding them after absorbing a 105-64 humiliation at the hands of the Alaska Aces.

“We had to keep positive during these past few days and focus on NLEX,” Black said as his team notched a 3-1 win-loss slate. “We just havd to shake off the negativity surrounding us.”

Meralco built a 30-point lead with 3:34 left in the third as Mark Macapagal drained a three-pointer to put the scoreboard at 69-39.

Black added that pressure defense was the key in the victory but the team as a whole is still “a working progress.”

“I have to adjust to them, they have to adjust to me, the sooner we get that the better,” Black said.

Gary David sparked with 23 points to go along with five assists and two steals for Meralco.

Jared Dillinger and Mike Cortez added 17 and 10 points respectivelt for the now fourth seed Bolts.

Taulava led the 2-2 Road Warriors with 24 points and 12 boards with Mark Cardona and rookie Juneric Baloria adding 14 apiece.

Box scores:

Meralco 90- David 23, Dillinger 17, Cortez 10, Caram 9, Anthony 7, Hugnatan 7, Macapagal 5, Hodge 4, Buenafe 4, Sena 4, Atkins 0, Ferriols 0, Ildefonso 0.

NLEX 75- Taulava 24, Cardona 14, Baloria 14, Cañaleta 9, Ramos 6, E. Villanueva 3, Apinan 3, Camson 2, Raymundo 0, Poligrates 0, J. Villanueva 0, Borboran 0, W. Arboleda 0, H. Arboleda 0.