MERALCO’S John Ferriols (left) and Globalport’s Jewel Ponferada tangle for possession in yesterday’s game at MoA Arena. MARIANNE BERMUDEZ
It came in the most unorthodox way, but Meralco coach Norman Black swore Josh Davis has been practicing that not-so-pretty shot.
Davis drained a looping, wrong-footed left-handed floater under heavy pressure at the buzzer last night as Meralco nipped Globalport, 86-84, to stay unscathed in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup eliminations at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
Black said that Davis had asked for the ball during their timeout to draw the game-winning play with 2.7 seconds left.
“As a coach, when your best player asks for the ball, you have no choice,” Black said after Davis finished with 33 points, 24 rebounds and five steals in leading the Bolts to their fifth straight triumph.
“Surprisingly, he has been practicing that shot,” Black said with a smile.
In the nightcap, Jason Castro scored 31 points, had nine assists and the defensive gem of the game that helped seal a 104-103 Talk ‘N Text victory over Barangay Ginebra.
It was the second straight victory for the Tropang Texters, who climbed to a share of second with idle defending champion Purefoods at 4-1, as the Gin Kings, who blew a 17-point first-half lead, slumped to 2-3 with their first loss in the last three outings.
Ginebra had possession with 2.8 seconds left and making the inbound. But Castro came from behind to tap Mac Baracael’s pass away from LA Tenorio which silenced a pro-Ginebra gallery.
Gary David scored 13 of his 22 points in the fourth period as he and Davis accounted for all but two of the Bolts’ 27 points in the quarter.
The loss was the third in five games for the Batang Pier, who decided on Friday to replace original import pick CJ Leslie with Calvin Warner even if Globalport drew 31 points and 18 rebounds in a 95-73 win over Alaska last Wednesday.
The scores:
First Game
MERALCO 86—Davis 33, David 22, Cortez 10, Wilson 8, Anthony 8, Reyes 3, Hugnatan 2, Atkins 0, Hodge 0, Ildefonso 0, Sena 0, Dillinger 0, Macapagal 0, Ferriols 0.
GLOBALPORT 84—Warner 24, Romeo 14, Ponferrada 10, Miranda 9, Buenafe 9, Pringle 6, Semerad 6, Isip 6, Jensen 0.
Quarters: 20-15, 38-31, 59-58, 86-84
Second Game
TALK ‘N TEXT 104—Castro 31, Howell 20, De Ocampo 17, Rosser 15, Alas 7, Reyes R. J. 7, Fonacier 4, Miller 3, Washington 0, Carey 0.
GINEBRA 103—Dunigan 30, Baracael 20, Tenorio 14, Yeo 12, Caguioa 11, Slaughter 9, Mamaril 4, Monfort 3, Aguilar 0, Ellis 0.
Quarters: 20-28, 49-52, 79-75, 104-103