Meralco Bolts celebrate after another win over TNT. PBA IMAGES
The Final Four series that hasn’t been that attractive at the box-office played its finest game yet, with Meralco winning an old-fashioned shootout to gain a crack at closing out this series first over a highly fancied foe.
Reynel Hugnatan provided a lot of outside firepower and the others who were expected to step up did so last night as the Bolts clipped TNT KaTropa, 119-113, to go 2-1 up in their best-of-five series for the chance at the clincher tomorrow also at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.
Hugnatan hit 5-of-6 triple tries as the Bolts drained a total of 17, a vital element in their game that coach Norman Black has talked of all series long as Meralco shoved the top-ranked Texters on cliff’s edge in the most exciting way.
“Basically, it will take an effort very much like this one for us to be able to realize our dream of making it to the championship,” Black told reporters after pinning back-to-back losses on the Texters for the first time in the season-closing conference.
“I can’t be prouder of my players for getting over the hump,” he said after his underrated Bolts stood toe-to-toe against the giants of the tournament. “This is a crucial win, but it’s not over yet.”
Rookies Chris Newsome and Baser Amer had their shining moments in the final frame, with Newsome involved in back-to-back gravity-defying slams and Amer shooting all of his 12 points in that stretch, six of them coming from beyond the arc.
Jimmy Alapag hit four triples and moved within two of eclipsing Allan Caidic as the all-time career leader.
Meanwhile, Barangay Ginebra, a team known for its comebacks, tries to write finish to the squad with the greatest comeback story ever told today when the Gin Kings clash with San Miguel Beer in Game 4 of their semifinal series.
Ginebra has a 2-1 edge and can go for the kill in the 6:30 p.m. contest.
Before the game, the league announced the holding of a blood donation program through the Alagang PBA from 3 to 6 p.m.
The scores:
MERALCO 119—Durham 23, Hugnatan 21, Alapag 17, Newsome 16, Hodge 13, Amer 12, Uyloan 9, Faundo 6, Nabong 2, Buenafe 0.
TNT KATROPA 113—Castro 28, Fonacier 20, De Ocampo 15, Williams 15, Ammons 14, Tautuaa 10, Carey 4, Ababou 3, Rosario 3, Rosser 1, Rosales 0.
Quarters: 28-23, 50-47, 82-84, 119-113