Bolts square series vs Aces
MERALCO stuck close to Alaska all game last night before coming up with a scorching finish to clip the Aces, 92-87, and knot their best-of-five Final Four series in the Oppo PBA Commissioner’s Cup after two games at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Jared Dillinger hit two of his five triples inside the final 2:21, and Jimmy Alapag had one that came earlier as the Bolts charged home with a flurry to complete a comeback from 14 points down in the third and regain psychological edge going into tomorrow’s Game 3.
“I felt that it was a great effort on our part in the second half,” Meralco coach Norman Black told reporters.
Black cited the ability of his gunners to nail the outside shot this time and free up import Arinze Onuaku underneath, as the burly import finished with 22 points and 14 rebounds, his last board and bucket coming with 13.7 seconds left to ice it, 90-85.
“That’s what we needed,” Black said of Meralco making 8-of-22 tries from beyond trifectaville. “Until we start making our outside shots, the (Alaska) defense will only collapse on Arinze.”
The critical third game of this series will be held tomorrow also at the Big Dome even as Rain or Shine tries to sweep San Miguel Beer in their half of the Final Four at 7 p.m. at PhilSports Arena.
San Miguel could be playing without import Tyler Wilkerson in Game 3 after the leading Best Import candidate reportedly threw a fit and walked out of the dugout immediately after a 98-96 Game 2 loss on Tuesday night.
The Beermen held practice from 2-4 p.m. yesterday without Wilkerson, and team officials and players were reportedly ordered to stay mum on the incident.
The scores:
MERALCO 92—Onuaku 22, Dillinger 20, Newsome 19, Hugnatan 15, Hodge 7, Alapag 3, Buenafe Ry 2, Caram 2, Ferriols 2, Faundo 0, Amer 0.
ALASKA 87—Dozier 28, Abueva 18, Baguio 10, Banchero 9, Baclao 5, Dela Cruz 5, Jazul 4, Thoss 4, Hontiveros 2, Menk 2, Eman 0, Exciminiano 0.
Quarters: 14-17, 37-44, 61-70, 92-87
