Meralco guns for 2nd win vs Tautuaa-less GlobalPort

Things have not gone Mo Tautuaa’s way in his career reboot: He lost his first game in a GlobalPort uniform—to his former team—and will now miss his club’s second outing in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.

The PBA slapped a one-game suspension and a P35,000 fine on the Filipino-Tongan center for his flagrant fouls incurred in the Batang Pier’s game against TNT on Sunday.

Tautuaa kicked KaTropa reinforcement Jeremy Tyler in the chest on his way down from a dunk which led to his ejection with 2:41 left in the game.

“Dunking and putting your feet in my face, where I come from, is very disrespectful,” Tyler said after the game.

TNT eventually wound up with a 128-114 victory and the Batang Pier will be hard-pressed to bounce back from that defeat, especially since they face a Meralco squad that won its opening match.

Led by comebacking import Arinze Onuaku’s 30 points, 19 rebounds, six assists, three steals and four blocks, the Bolts dismantled Columbian Dyip, 116-103, Wednesday.

Meralco will gun for a second win Friday at 4:30 p.m., right before Alaska and Rain or Shine take the Smart Araneta Coliseum floor.

“[Onuaku] gives us exactly what we need—rebounds and post play,” Black said.