KIA playing-coach Manny Pacquiao tries to shake off Meralco’s Mike Cortez in last night’s match at Smart Araneta Coliseum. AUGUST DELA CRUZ
Meralco flirted with disaster last night before pulling off a 99-93 victory over KIA Motors to formally complete the quarterfinal cast in the PBA Philippine Cup at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Bolts blew a 22-point lead and even trailed, 78-81, early in the fourth before putting it all together and finishing the game the way they started it—hot and composed—to rise to a level 5-5.
Jared Dillinger scored 25 points and Cliff Hodge added 17 and 10 rebounds for the Bolts, who will close out against Globalport, with a win giving them a chance at a twice-to-beat privilege.
Boxing icon Manny Pacquiao played just his second pro game and again wasn’t a factor on the floor, winding up scoreless in playing the first 6:30 before cheering his Sorento to the near upset.
Still, the Sorento took a ninth straight loss flush on the chin and will play a no-bearing game against Barako Bull later this week.
Meralco used a 7-0 spurt to erase that three-point deficit and be on its way, with Mark Macapagal shooting all of his eight points in the fourth to help the Bolts finish strong.
“Basically, it was a tale of two halves for us—we played great in the first and basically forgot to play in the second, except for the final six minutes,” coach Norman Black, who missed four players, said.
Reil Cervantes led the Sorento with 18 points with new acquisition Eliud Poligrates adding 11.
The scores:
First Game
MERALCO 99—Dillinger 25, Hodge 17, Anthony 14, Wilson 11, David 10, Macapagal 8, Morrison 4, Cortez 3, Ferriols 3, Ildefonso 2, Sena 2, Buenafe 0, Guevarra 0.
KIA 93—Cervantes 18, Poligrates 11, Revilla 10, Bagatsing 10, Thiele 9, Alvarez 8, Pascual 8, Dehesa 7, Custodio 6, Webb 4, Burtscher 3, Pacquiao 0, Buensuceso 0.
Quarters: 34-19, 60-39, 73-72, 99-93