Marqus Blakely of Purefoods (light) vs Mark Isip of Globalport (dark). NUKI SABIO/PBA
MANILA, Philippines—Meralco made up for a slow start by finishing strong on Friday night, scoring a 90-80 victory over KIA Motors to grab the early lead in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup eliminations at Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay.
Gary David and Jai Reyes hit a chunk of their points in the final two frames and keyed the Bolts’ rise from as many as 11 points down in the first quarter for their second straight victory following an upset 85-74 decision of Barangay Ginebra on opening day Tuesday.
The loss was the second straight for the Carnival, who got another monster effort from hulking import PJ Ramos but very little support from their local crew.
Purefoods opened defense of its title in style later in the night, scoring an 83-70 victory over Globalport with the shortest import in the lot, Marqus Blakely, leading the Star Hotshots’ no non-sense effort on both ends.
In a pinch-hitting stint until Daniel Orton arrives, the 6-foot-4 Blakely tossed in 26 points, pulled down 18 rebounds, had seven blocks, issued four assists and had two steals in leading the Hotshots to a rip-roaring debut.
Purefoods started getting into a rhythm late in the second quarter and sustained it till the end, leading by as many as 18 points before eventually dealing the Batang Pier their first loss in two games.
Ramos, the 7-foot-3 Puerto Rican who became the first international player to jump to the NBA straight out of high school 10 years ago, scattered 34 points that went with 21 rebounds.
But only JR Buensuceso was able to toss in twin digits, 11, in support of Ramos, who scored half of the Carnival’s 38 points in the first half alone. KIA missed the services of Reil Cervantes.
The scores
First Game
MERALCO 90—David 25, Davis 19, Reyes 16, Anthony 6, Ildefonso 6, Hugnatan 6, Hodge 4, Wilson 4, Ferriols 4, Atkins 0, Cortez 0, Buenafe 0, Sena 0.
KIA 80—Ramos 34, Buensuceso 11, Poligrates 6, Webb 6, Cawaling 5, Yee 5, Pascual 4, Ighalo 4, Revilla 3, Burtscher 2, Thiele 0, Padilla 0.
Quarters: 12-18, 36-38, 62-56, 90-80
Second Game
PUREFOODS 83—Blakely 26, Barroca 11, Mallari 10, Yap 9, Melton 8, Pingris 6, Devance 6, Maliksi 5, Reavis 2, Alvarez 0, Pennisi 0, Gaco 0, Allado 0.
GLOBALPORT 70—Leslie 25, Romeo 19, Miranda 10, Pringle 4, Ponferada 4, Semerad 3, Taha 2, Isip 2, Pinto 1, Buenafe 0, Caperal 0, Nabong 0, Baclao 0.
Quarters: 21-20, 41-36, 57-46, 83-70