Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
MERALCO snapped out of a two-game slide in a big way Friday night, blowing Blackwater to bits early to post a 106-83 victory and regain solo leadership in the Oppo PBA Commissioner’s Cup eliminations at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
Big Arinze Onuaku scored 27 points and had 17 rebounds and shut down counterpart Malcolm Rhett as the Bolts rose to 6-2 overall without showing any signs of missing gunslinger Gary David.
The win also put Meralco within another triumph of clinching a spot in the quarterfinals.
The loss was the second straight in a 3-5 card for the Elite, who were held to a paltry 14 points in the third quarter to stare at a 17-point halftime deficit.
David was placed on the unrestricted free agent’s list on Thursday after a run-in with the coaching staff last week.
Although the Bolts managed to make do without the Gilas Pilipinas stalwart, coach Norman Black said that David “not being in the team puts us at a big disadvantage.”
In the nightcap, Star picked up its third straight win and rose to 4-4 after a 127-100 rout of GlobalPort.
GlobalPort, which played sans injured players Terrence Romeo, Stanley Pringle, Dorian Peña and Anthony Semerad, lost its fifth straight game to remain at the cellar at 2-6.
Meanwhile, Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao was fined P40,000 and suspended for one game for his outburst in the Elasto Painters’ close win over Mahindra last Wednesday.
The firebrand mentor was tossed out of the floor with 1:33 left in the second period of a 103-98 victory for a second technical foul. He was canned for shouting expletives at game and technical officials while protesting a call.
Barangay Ginebra, meanwhile, guns for win No. 5 today in a Petron Saturday Special game against Phoenix Petroleum slated at Panabo Cultural and Sports Center. Game time is 5 p.m. with the Gin Kings listed as the overwhelming favorites against the undersized Fuel Masters.
The scores:
First Game
MERALCO 106—Onuaku 27, Amer 15, R Buenafe 11, Alapag 8, Hodge 7, RJ Buenafe 6, Caram 6, Hugatan 6, Newsome 6, Bono 4, Dillinger 4, Faundo 4, Ferriols 2, Guevarra 0.
BLACKWATER 83—Lastimosa 16, Cortez 15, Dela Cruz 10, Rhett 8, Reyes 7, Vosotros 7, Erram 6, Sena 4, Cervantes 3, Bulawan 2, Tiongson 2, Gamalinda 2, Agovida 1, Ballesteros 0, Golla 0.
Quarters: 30-21, 52-35, 81-62, 106-83
Second Game
STAR 127—Ratliffe 28, Maliksi 21, Barroca 16, Simon 13, Yap 12, Pingris 10, Mallari 8, Reavis 4, Cruz 3, Sangalang 3, Taha 3, Melton 2, Pascual J. 2, Torres 2, Pascual R. 0.
GLOBALPORT 100—Taggart 37, Taha 16, Yeo 14, Jensen 8, Maierhofer 6, Uyloan 6, Hayes 5, Fortuna 2, Kramer 2, Mamaril 2, Washington 2.
Quarters: 31-19, 61-40, 94-69, 127-100