FLASHY Globalport import C.J. Leslie attacks the defense of KIA’s Mark Yee in last night’s game at Mall of Asia Arena. EDWIN BACASMAS
MERALCO is just fine without Michael Dunigan.
Led by an import which coach Norman Black said they “scrambled” for, Meralco last night immediately shattered the seeming myth of invincibility surrounding Barangay Ginebra and Dunigan after an authoritative 85-74 decision in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup elimination at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
Josh Davis scored 25 points and grabbed 24 rebounds and Gary David was the sniper of old for the Bolts, who took control late in the first quarter before fending off numerous uprisings by the Gin Kings in the stretch to share conference-opening honors with Globalport.
David finished with 21 points.
“It’s a great start for us,” said Meralco coach Norman Black, still under the weather since coming back from the US with Davis. “Josh controlled the boards, which is what we brought him in for.”
Black’s defensive ploy effectively took Dunigan out of his sweet spot as he never got to show the form that made him a dominant reinforcement with Air21 just two seasons ago.
Earlier, C.J. Leslie scored 33 points, grabbed 14 rebounds, had five blocks and four assists in a scintillating debut as Globalport shellacked KIA Motors, 100-89.
Coming in sans the fanfare accorded the other reinforcements in the tournament, Leslie’s brilliant all-around effort put to the shade the 41-point, 20-rebound game of hulking Carnival (formerly Sorento) import PJ Ramos for the league newcomers.
Chito Victolero called the shots for the Carnival with boxing icon and head coach Manny Pacquiao attending to some matters in the US.
Black earned some sort of satisfaction by beating Ginebra, with whom the Bolts had a tug-of-war with for the services of Dunigan.
“I can’t control what he does, or what his agent does,” Black said when asked why they failed to land Dunigan. “We scrambled and got a pretty good import.”
The scores:
First Game
GLOBALPORT 100—Leslie 33, Romeo 19, Pringle 17, Miranda 8, Semerad 6, Ponferada 5, Isip 4, Nabong 4, Pinto 2, Baclao 2, Buenafe 0, Taha 0, Caperal 0, Jensen 0, De Ocampo 0.
KIA 89—Ramos 41, Yee 15, Cervantes 8, Ighalo 8, Revilla 7, Buensuceso 6, Sanga 2, Alvarez 2, Thiele 0, Poligrates 0, Padilla 0, Pascual 0, Dehesa 0, Burtscher 0, Custodio 0.
Quarters: 32-22, 56-42, 79-67, 100-89
Second Game
MERALCO 85—Davis 25, David 21, Cortez 12, Hodge 6, Wilson 6, Ferriols 4, Hugnatan 4, Atkins 3, Anthony 2, Sena 2, Reyes 0, Ildefonso 0, Reyes 0, Buenafe 0, Macapagal 0.
GINEBRA 74—Slaughter 23, Dunigan 17, Baracael 11, Urbiztondo 6, Caguioa 6, Tenorio 3, Monfort 3, Helterbrand 3, Ellis 2, Mamaril 0, Yeo 0, Reyes 0, Aguilar 0, Ababou 0, Brondial 0.
Quarters: 18-23, 43-34, 64-50, 85-74