Bolts target 7th win; Belga in hot water

MANILA, Philippines—Meralco, with the energetic Josh Davis back in perfect health, tries to inch closer to a twice-to-beat privilege Tuesday when it slugs it out with Alaska in the main game of another PBA Commissioner’s Cup double-header at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Game time is 7 p.m. with the Bolts installed as the solid picks over the Aces, who are likely to continue to miss the services of starting point guard JV Casio.

Defending champion Purefoods looks to enhance its playoff position against Barako Bull in the first game at 4:15 p.m.

Davis showed that he is back in top form last week after shooting 32 points and grabbing 19 rebounds in a 98-85 ripping of the Energy.

The 6-foot-8 Davis will be the anchor of the Meralco game on both ends as it tries to hold down former San Antonio Spur Damion James and start another winning streak.

Meralco opened with a 5-0 card before Davis suffered a nasty fall against San Miguel Beer that led to the team’s first of two losses.

Meanwhile, Beau Belga, after playing hero for Rain or Shine—and villain to Barangay Ginebra and its fans on Sunday—has been summoned by the Office of the Commissioner together with teammate Raymund Almazan Tuesday.

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Belga made 11 points and the defensive play of the game in a super physical 82-79 decision of the Gin Kings where he also taunted the Ginebra gallery at Cuneta Astrodome.

The beefy 6-foot-5 also was in a number of very rugged plays in the game.

That match got so intense that even three spectators were escorted out of the coliseum for allegedly throwing debris at Belga.

It was unclear why Almazan was summoned considering that he was on the short end of a rugby-like tackle dished out by Dorian Peña in the fourth period.

A win by the Bolts would practically close the door on the Aces and move them within another victory of a twice-to-beat privilege in the quarterfinals.

Purefoods is shooting for a win that will give the Star Hotshots solo second spot or the lead, in case the Bolts lose tonight.

Denzel Bowles, the former Best Import, is seeking a follow-up to a stellar performance that keyed a 118-117 triple overtime win over Talk ‘N Text last Saturday.