Meralco Bolts’ Alvin Pasaol. –PBA IMAGES
Alvin Pasaol scored 16 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter to secure Meralco’s 96-83 victory over NLEX in the PBA On Tour held Wednesday at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
Pasaol waxed hot from long range as he hit seven three-pointers that helped propel the Bolts to their sixth victory in nine games.
“He’s been doing a lot of extra work with his outside shooting,” said assistant Reynel Hugnatan in Filipino after Meralco played without coach Luigi Trillo, who is in the United States to attend a coaching clinic and the NBA Summer League.
Active consultant Nenad Vucenic spent most of the game calling the shots for the Bolts, who saw Aaron Black for the first time in the exhibition series.
Black didn’t score but had nine assists in 18 minutes but his on-court presence is a welcome sight for Meralco with Chris Banchero and Anjo Caram still out and Chris Newsome focusing on Gilas Pilipinas preparations for the Fiba World Cup.
NLEX lost for the fifth time in eight matches which happened on the debut of new addition Robbie Herndon.
Herndon, who was left unsigned by San Miguel Beer after his contract expired in June, scored 10 points on 3-of-9 shooting in 24 minutes.
Don Trollano topscored for the Road Warriors with 17 points after the contest that had a 15-minute delay near the midway point of the fourth quarter due to ceiling leaks caused by the heavy downpour.
The scores:
MERALCO 96—Pasaol 25, Almazan 12, Dario 11, Maliksi 11, Johnson 10, Rios 6, Pascual 6, Hodge 4, Torres 4, Quinto 3, Jose 2, Black 0.
NLEX 83—Trollano 17, Anthony 15, Nieto 15, Herndon 10, Alas 10, Doliguez 9, Pascual 4, Adamos 3, Fajardo 0
Quarters: 24-20, 43-39, 71-62, 96-83.