NORMAN Black and his Meralco Bolts went through the wringer again against Mahindra, and expects nothing different when they start their quarterfinal series in the PBA Governors’ Cup in a couple of nights.
“It’s going to be another tough game [against the Enforcers],” Black said last night after sealing a twice-to-beat advantage over Mahindra in their playoff pairing following a tightrope 104-99 victory at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.
“We expect nothing [different] in the game [tomorrow],” Black added as his Bolts shoot for a Final Four berth in the 3 p.m. game slated Saturday at Ynares Center in Antipolo, the first of two chances Meralco booked after finishing No. 4 in the eliminations after last night’s win.
“They have been playing very well this conference,” Black said of the Enforcers, who have lost their last four games by slim margins, counting the last two against Meralco by an average of four points.
Meanwhile, Phoenix Petroleum tore Rain or Shine apart in the second game, scoring a 105-94 victory to book the last playoff slot and draw No. 1 TNT KaTropa in the quarterfinals also on Saturday.
Black, who notched his 601st victory to tie the late great Virgilio “Baby” Dalupan for third all-time in the winningest coach’s list, got 34 points from Allen Durham and a huge second half from Jared Dillinger, who fired all of his 22 points in the final two quarters.
“I got lucky,” Dillinger said with a smile after dropping 12 points in the fourth, including two of his four triples inside the final 2:19 that helped fend off the determined Enforcers in the stretch. “I’ll take it.”
Baser Amer fired 16 points and Chris Newsome 12 for the Bolts, with the rookie Newsome also pulling out a critical stop on KG Canaleta in the waning seconds that helped seal the win.
“I guess it’s immaturity in the endgame on our part,” the veteran Canaleta told the Inquirer in Filipino when asked what it is in Meralco that had them losing their last two encounters, this one, after leading by as large as 15 points.
“We are a young team with a young import,” Canaleta said. “Hopefully, these last two lessons gave us some of the maturity we need to win in the endgame.”
James White, the 23-year-old import who helped Mahindra to a 4-0 start and the franchise’s first-ever playoff appearance, fired 22 points, had 13 rebounds and five assists, with Aldrech Ramos adding 20.
The scores:
First Game
MERALCO 104—Durham 34, Dillinger 22, Amer 16, Newsome 12, Faundo 7, Hodge 4, Hugnatan 4, Al-Hussaini 2, Nabong 2, Alapag 1, Uyloan 0, Caram 0.
MAHINDRA 99—White 22, Ramos 20, Taha 16, Canaleta 10, Revilla 10, Yee 10, Ballesteros 6, Digregorio 5, Jaime 0, Agovida 0, Bagatsing 0, Guinto 0, Paniamogan 0.
Quarters: 26-29, 41-53, 69-71, 104-99
Second Game
PHOENIX 105—Phelps 40, Urbiztondo 23, W. Wilson 9, Baguio 8, Enciso 5, Intal 5, Pennisi 5, Lanete 4, Lee 3, Torres 3, Buenafe 0, J. Wilson 0.
RAIN OR SHINE 94—Dollard 20, Cruz 14, Belga 12, Quinahan 10, Tiu 9, Chan 7, Ponferada 7, Ahanmisi 4, Lee 4, Norwood 4, Almazan 2, Trollano 1, Nimes 0.
Quarters: 29-16, 54-38, 85-71, 105-94