Meralco silences Ginebra, notches first win in Antipolo

PBA IMAGE by Nuki Sabio

ANTIPOLO, Rizal—It was the calm after the storm.

With the crowd predominantly against them, the Meralco Bolts stunned Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, 109-99, to notch the franchise’s first win at the Ynares Sports Center-Antipolo in their PBA Philippine Cup matchup Friday evening.

Meralco stood their ground as Ginebra looked to ride the Antipolo cheers to victory, with the Bolts’ crucial shots stopping Ginebra in its tracks.

After an ill-fated three-point attempt from Gary David led to two Japeth Aguilar free throws, 103-99, Bolts big man Reynel Hugnatan hit one big jumper from the baseline with 55 seconds remaining in the game to put the boards at 105-99.

Bolts head coach Norman Black knew that his team was quite undersized but had the fortitude to bring down the timber and also the will to execute the offense to the letter.

“We’re used to being undersized, I’m glad that the players came with effort and the desire to win,” Black said as his team moved to a 4-3 win-loss card. “They had a lot of heart.”

Meralco had a 13-point lead, 79-68, in the latter half of the third quarter but Ginebra went on an intoxicating 16-4 run across the final two quarters, with Joseph Yeo putting them within a single point, 83-82, knocking down a jumper from the right elbow at the start of the fourth.

Gary David then scored five points unanswered, a three-pointer and a layup on the break, to give Meralco a six-point lead, 92-86, at the 8:04 mark.

With a comfortable nine-point lead with 4:05 remaining, Meralco almost had the spark taken out of them when Mark Caguioa nailed a three-pointer to put Ginebra closer, 100-94.

Mark Macapagal, though, would answer back with a three of his own, 103-94.

Black said they were fortunate that their shots were falling in against Ginebra as his team shot 50 percent from the field, and 47 percent from the three-point area.

“Our defense was pretty solid, and our offense clicked,” Black said.

Cliff Hodge and Mark Macapagal had 18 points apiece for Meralco with David adding 16 points and six boards.

Jared Dillinger and Hugnatan had near double-doubles with the former putting up a 15-point and eight-rebound game and the latter  a 12-point and eight-board night.

Greg Slaughter led all scorers with 26 points to go along with 13 boards for Ginebra, who now fall to a 5-3 card.

Japeth Aguilar added 18 points and seven boards with Joseph Yeo, Caguioa and Mac Baracael putting up 15, 11 and 10 points respectively.

Box scores:

MERALCO 109-Hodge 18, Macapagal 18, David 16, Dillinger 15, Hugnatan 12, Ferriols 8, Caram 6, Atkins 4, Buenafe 4, Sena 4, Ildefonso 2, Cortez 2, Guevarra 0.

GINEBRA 99-Slaughter 26, Aguilar 18, Yeo 15, Caguioa 11, Baracael 10, Ellis 7, Tenorio 4, Mamaril 3, Brondial 3, Urbiztondo 0, Helterbrand 0, Reyes 0.