Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
MERALCO finished strong to clip upset-conscious Mahindra, 94-86, and then got a huge boost in its quest to bag a top-two berth after Barangay Ginebra dealt sister team San Miguel Beer a 110-84 whacking in the Oppo-PBA Commissioner’s Cup eliminations Sunday night at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
In winning a second straight game, the Bolts rose to 7-2 and moved a full game ahead of idle Alaska (6-3) with the Beermen keeping third at 5-3 and needing to sweep their last three games to boost their bid for a twice-to-beat bonus.
Ginebra improved to 6-4, half a game ahead of idle NLEX, Rain or Shine and defending champion Tropang TNT.
Meralco closed out the Enforcers with a 16-0 run with Cliff Hodge pacing the Bolts with 25 points and 11 rebounds.
The Enforcers dropped to 4-5 but remained in contention for the eighth and last qualifying slot.
“It’s a big win for us,” said Meralco coach Norman Black. “I was a little concerned coming into the game because of a 16-day break we had. And Mahindra played us very tough.”
The Enforcers were led by Augustus Gilchrist’s 20 points and the 15 of off-guard Karl Dehesa.
San Miguel, the reigning Philippine Cup champion and consensus team-to-beat here, was a listless sight after trailing by 16 points after two quarters.
“We just caught San Miguel at the right time,” said Ginebra coach Tim Cone. “We got contributions all the way through, especially on the defensive side.”
Othyus Jeffers scored 22 points and had 13 rebounds for Ginebra, and Greg Slaughter had 18. Mark Caguioa was the only starter for Cone who failed to finish in twin digits with nine.
The Gin Kings, though, got two more players scoring 10 or better coming off the bench, with Sol Mercado and Chris Ellis accounting for a combined 25.
Tyler Wilkerson scored 20 and had 16 rebounds for San Miguel, which drew 14 points and 10 boards from reigning two-time MVP June Mar Fajardo.
Meralco will play Alaska on Friday and Ginebra next Wednesday.
The scores:
First Game
MERALCO 94—Hodge 25, Onuaku 16, Newsome 15, Hugnatan 13, Alapag 8, Dillinger 7, Amer 6, Faundo 4, Bono 0, Ry Buenafe 0, Caram 0, Ferriols 0,
MAHINDRA 86—Gilchrist 20, Dehesa 15, Ramos 12, Yee 11, Revilla 10, Canaleta 6, Digregorio 3, Pinto 3, Bagatsing 2, Ballesteros 2, Guinto 2.
Quarters: 18-29, 45-44, 60-70, 94-86
Second Game
GINEBRA 110—Jeffers 22, Slaughter 18, Ellis 15, Aguilar 14, Tenorio 11, Mercado 10, Caguioa 9, Thompson 5, Marcelo 2, Mariano 2, Salva 2, Helterbrand 0.
SAN MIGUEL 84—Wilkerson 20, Fajardo 14, Lassiter 12, Cabagnot 11, Espinas 10, Ross 9, Santos 6, De Ocampo 2, Arana 0, Heruela 0, Lutz 0, Reyes 0, Semerad 0, Tubid 0.
Quarters: 16-14, 52-36, 78-64, 110-84</pre>