Macapagal lights up as Meralco powers down NLEX for 1-0 lead

MANILA, Philippines—Meralco pushed the right buttons on Friday as it turned back NLEX, 97-82, to take a 1-0 series lead in their playoffs matchup in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

It was an almost no-contest as the Bolts picked apart the Road Warriors like it was nothing. Meralco immediately jumped to an 11-2 lead in the first quarter and never looked back.

Bolts head coach Norman Black said his team picked the right time to play as a unit after suffering three straight losses going to the playoffs.

“Fortunately, we picked Game One to play one of our best games,” Black said. “It was a much better job of sharing the basketball and getting everybody involved and that made a big difference.”
It was a well-balanced offense for the Bolts with rarely-used Mark Macapagal lighting it up with 22 points, including 15 from deep.

Josh Davis had a 16-point, 21-rebound double-double with Sean Anthony going for 14 points and seven boards.

Gary David had 13 points while Reynel Hugnatan and Mike Cortez each had 10.

After getting their 20-point lead, 67-47, trimmed to eight at the end of the third, 69-61, the Bolts regrouped and launched a 12-2 run to start the fourth and put the boards at 81-63 as Josh Davis worked underneath.
Meralco, however, will play Game 2 without forward Jared Dillinger who injured his left knee at the 3:10 mark of the first quarter.

“He doesn’t look good from what the trainer told me,” Black said.

Al Thornton, meanwhile, led NLEX with 23 points and 11 boards but only had two field goals.

Guards Mark Cardona and Jonas Villanueva combined for 30 points.