PBA: Meralco completes semis cast, trumps NLEX

MANILA, Philippines—Meralco eliminated NLEX with a 97-86 victory to complete the semifinals cast of the 2021 PBA Philippine Cup Friday at DHVSU Gym in Bacolor, Pampanga.

The Bolts, who were forced to use their twice-to-beat advantage against the Road Warriors, will face Magnolia in the semifinals which start Sunday.

After a back-and-forth contest in the first quarter, the Bolts managed to pull away in the second going on a 10-0 run for the 32-21 lead off of Cliff Hodge’s layup at the 10:02 mark of the period.

Meralco’s lead grew to much as 18, 62-44, when Chris Newsome drained a three-pointer with 4:31 left in the third.

The Bolts lost the opener, 81-80, after rookie Calvin Oftana’s clutch play that extended the quarterfinals showdown for the Road Warriors.

“Whenever you play against Yeng Guiao’s teams it’s always going to be a very tough game, a very physical game, there’s going to be a lot of intensity,” said Bolts head coach Norman Black.

“They were changing defenses to try and confuse us on offense and I thought my guys did a very good job of being able to see exactly what they were doing defensively and they reacted very well.”

Despite NLEX’s changing defense, the Bolts still found their stride hitting 48.1 percent of their shots, 37-of-77, from the field and going 10-of-26 from deep.

The Road Warriors, meanwhile, shot 39.1% or 27-of-69 from the field but was a paltry 6-of-23 or 26.1% from deep.

Chris Newsome led the Bolts with 23 points, nine rebounds, six assists, and two blocks while Cliff Hodge had a near double-double of 16 points and nine boards.

Don Trollano led NLEX with 19 points.