MERALCO took advantage of Tropang TNT import Ivan Johnson’s latest flare-up yesterday to score an 88-84 victory over the defending champions and be the unlikely solo leader in the Oppo PBA Commissioner’s Cup in a Petron Saturday Special game at PhilSports Arena in Pasig.
The Bolts, after Johnson was ejected, held the Tropang Texters to just six points in the second period and to 26 at the half before holding sway the rest of the way and, this early, double their win total in the Philippine Cup after rising to 2-0.
Six players, with Cliff Hodge shooting 15 and Jared Dillinger chipping in 14, tossed in twin digits in another balanced offensive attack for the Bolts, who scored a 90-86 decision of Star on Wednesday.
TNT came into the game disputing the early lead with Meralco as Johnson marked his return after serving out a one-game suspension for fighting in a pre-season game with Blackwater players and being fined P50,000.
“We were fortunate that Ivan (Johnson) was thrown out,” Meralco coach Norman Black told reporters.
Johnson got the boot late in the second period after getting a second technical because of a flagrant foul 1 penalty for hitting Bruan Faundo in the face while trying to give a screen to a teammate.
On the way out of the floor, the volatile reinforcement uttered some profanities and cursed commissioner Chito Narvasa, who wasted no time in banning him for life and fining him P250,000.
The loss was the first in two games for the Texters, who are now left to scrounge around for a replacement for Johnson with a game against GlobalPort coming up on Friday at Mall of Asia Arena.
TROPANG TNT rookie Moala Tautuaa gets hemmed in by the double team of Meralco’s Kelly Nabong (left) and Arinze Onuaku. AUGUST DELA CRUZ
Rain or Shine had import Wayne Chism struggling most of the night but was still good enough to upend Star, 95-86, and get its campaign going on a positive note.
Jeff Chan, with a sore elbow and all, came off the bench to shoot 17 points with four more local tossing in 10 or better to support Chism, who struggled to shoot just 13.
Denzel Bowles scored 39 points and had 18 rebounds but the Hotshots stumbled to their second straight defeat just the same with the Star bench having only Allein Maliksi scoring in double figures.
“It was not as smooth as we wanted it to be,” coach Yeng Guiao said. “Wayne is still struggling to get his game back. We’re still a bit out of shape.”
The scores:
First Game
MERALCO 88—Hodge 15, Dillinger 14, Onuaku 14, Faundo 11, Alapag 10, Amer 10, Newsome 9, David 3, Al-Hussaini 2, Bono 0, Buenafe 0, Caram 0, Hugnatan 0, Nabong 0.
TROPANG TNT 84—Castro 25, Fonacier 15, Johnson 9, Williams 8, De Ocampo 7, Reyes R. 7, Carey 6, Nuyles 4, Tautuaa 3, Ababou 0, Rosser 0, Reyes J. 0, Aban 0.
Quarters: 16-20, 33-26, 61-55, 88-84
Second Game
RAIN OR SHINE 95—Chan 17, Chism 13, Cruz 13, Belga 12, Ahanmisi 10, Quinahan 10, Trollano 8, Tiu 6, Norwood 3, Teng 2, Almazan 1, Ibanes 0, Nimes 0, Ponferrada 0.
STAR 86—Bowles 39, Maliksi 10, Reavis 8, Barroca 7, Simon 6, Melton 5, Yap 4, Cruz 3, Pingris 2, Sangalang 2.
Quarters: 24-22, 44-44, 64-63, 95-86