PBA: Meralco pulls away late to finish off Blackwater

Andre Emmett Photo by Tristan Tamayo/NQUIRER.net

Leave it to Meralco to create a spark in the end-game as they ripped apart Blackwater, 87-72, to get to the .500 mark in the PBA Governor’s Cup Friday at Smart-Araneta Coliseum.

From a close first half, the Bolts zapped away in the second outscoring the Elite 53-33 as they drove to the basket with reckless abandon.

Bolts head coach Norman Black said the second half was by far a better half for them than their “lackadaisical” first half.

“Very good effort on the second half. The first half we lacked energy, spunk,” Black said as Meralco climbed to 3-3. “We allowed Blackwater to jump on us.”

Meralco went on a 17-7 run across the third and fourth quarters to grab a 73-61 lead when Asian import Seiya Ando swished a jumper from the top of the key with 7:31 remaining in the fourth.

It was a well-balanced offense that carried the Bolts with five players finishing in double-digits.

Andre Emmett led Meralco with 17 points and 12 rebounds while Gary David added 17 points.

Jared Dillinger and Ando had 12 apiece while Sean Anthony played some quality offense with 10 points for the Bolts.

Blackwater fell to its fifth loss in six games and had a miserable night as the Elite only scored on 29-of-81 shots.

Marcus Douthit had 15 points, 7-of-18 from the field, and eight boards to lead the Elite.

The scores:

Meralco 87 — Emmett 17, David 16, Dillinger 12, Ando `12, Anthony 10, Nabong 8, Hodge 6, Atkins 2, Ildefonso 2, Ferriols 2, Cortez 0, Hugnatan 0, Guevarra 0.

Blackwater 72 — Douthit 15, Heruela 12, Gamalinda 8, Laure 8, Erram 7, Acuna 6, Cervantes 5, Bulawan 4, Reyes 3, Salvacion 3, Golla 1, Timberlake 0.

Quarters: 12-22; 34-39; 63-56; 87-72.

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