MERALCO scored the first 16 points to dominate Rain or Shine as the Bolts snapped a two-game losing streak in style by scoring a 109-102 ripping of one of the PBA Governors’ Cup title favorites last night at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.
The Bolts opened up leads of as many as 26 points in the third period and cruised their way to the finish, rising to 3-2 overall and stay solidly in the running for a seat in the top four in the first round of the playoffs.
Rain or Shine slid to 2-2 after playing its worst game of the season-closing conference.
Barangay Ginebra rolled to its third straight victory by taking down Blackwater, 107-95, in the nightcap. The Gin Kings rose to 4-1 after getting 27 points, nine rebounds and eight assists from Justin Brownlee.
Eric Dawson had 26 points and 18 rebounds to pace the Elite, who dropped to 1-4.
So outclassed were the Elasto Painters that they trailed, 65-91, before coming up with a big fourth quarter, which made the score look respectable in the end.
Allen Durham scored 12 points in the opening frame and helped crank up Meralco’s guns, leading the Bolts with 32 points, 12 rebounds and five assists.
The scores:
First Game
MERALCO 109—Durham 32, Faundo 12, Newsome 12, Hodge 11, Amer 10, Dillinger 10, Alapag 9, Hugnatan 7, Uyloan 4, Nabong 2, Jamshidi 0.
RAIN OR SHINE 102—Lowhorn 25, Cruz 15, Quiñahan 13, Ahanmisi 11, Norwood 9, Lee 8, Almazan 5, Chan 5, Tiu 4, Trollano 4, Belga 3, Ponferada 0.
Quarters: 35-21, 65-47, 95-74, 109-102
Second Game
GINEBRA 107—Brownlee 27, Tenorio 23, Aguilar 19, Devance 9, Marcelo 9, Mercado 7, Caguioa 6, Cruz 5, Thompson 2, Bonifacio 0, Mariano 0, Salva 0.
BLACKWATER 95—Dawson 26, Lastimosa 21, Dela Cruz 15, Erram 13, Cervantes 8, Gamalinda 4, Pascual 4, Cortez 2, Qahwash 2, Canada 0, Reyes 0, Sumang 0, Sena 0.
Quarters: 21-23, 48-40, 74-69, 107-95