PBA: Aaron Black, Meralco scrape past TNT in OT to tie semis

Meralco guard Aaron Black. PBA IMAGES

ANTIPOLO CITY—Aaron Black and Cliff Hodge came through in overtime as Meralco outlasted TNT, 124-117, to even their best-of-five semifinal series in the PBA Governors’ Cup at 1-1 on Sunday at Ynares Center here.

Black scored six of his 28 points that tied his career-high in the extension while Hodge shook off a whiplash late in regulation by playing a key role on both ends as the Bolts came away with another hard-fought win.

It was the second time that the Bolts produced an overtime win after dispatching the Magnolia Hotshots in the quarterfinals last Wednesday. They were handed a 110-80 defeat in the series opener two nights ago.

Import KJ McDaniels atoned for a lackluster showing in Game 1 to deliver 39 points, 20 rebounds, four assists, three steals and three blocks for the Bolts.

Meralco and TNT will break their tie on Wednesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Mikey Williams dropped 29 points while import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson had 27 points, 15 rebounds, nine assists and two blocks but the Tropang Giga squandered a golden chance to take a commanding 2-0 lead in regulation.

Hollis-Jefferson got fouled with six seconds to go in the fourth after Meralco, up 112-111, botched an inbound pass, but the all-around reinforcement made just one of two shots, missing the first try, that sent the contest into overtime.

It was on the same play that Hodge hit his head on the floor after challenging Hollis-Jefferson’s drive. But that didn’t deter Hodge from delivering in the extra session, scoring the first four points before Black took charge.

The scores:

MERALCO 124 — McDaniels 39, Black 28, Hodge 15, Maliksi 11, Quinto 11, Banchero 7, Newsome 5, Caram 3, Jose 3, Almazan 2.

TNT 117 — Williams M. 29, Hollis-Jefferson 27,Castro 17, Oftana 13, Pogoy 12, Chua 11, Erram 6, Marcelo 2, Khobuntin 0, Varilla 0, Montalbo 0.

Quarters: 35-30, 59-49, 86-86, 112-112 (Reg), 124-117 (OT).

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