PBA: Meralco clobbers Terrafirma by 38 for 2-0 start

Meralco Bolts’ Bong Quinto during a PBA Philippine Cup game against Terrafirma Dyip. –PBA IMAGES

Defending champion Meralco sent Terrafirma crashing back to earth after zooming to a 118-80 victory and the early lead in the PBA Philippine Cup Sunday at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Bong Quinto set the tone by hitting a four-pointer and a three at the start while rookie CJ Cansino topscored with 19 points as the Bolts improved to 2-0 in the tournament which they hope to repeat.

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Quinto finished with 13 points on top of three rebounds and five assists, while four more players scored in double figures in securing the biggest winning margin in team history.

Meralco’s blowout served as a good warmup to Wednesday’s marquee clash with San Miguel Beer in a rematch of last year’s PBA Philippine Cup Finals at Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

Both teams will also sport retro jerseys for that game to mark the league’s 50th anniversary.

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Terrafirma absorbed a brutal beating despite opening the conference on a winning note against Phoenix two nights earlier.

Sophomore bruiser Louie Sangalang had 23 points and seven rebounds for the Dyip in the defeat.

Quinto’s hot start propelled Meralco to a 7-0 lead after tipoff which eventually catapulted to a massive gap in the second at 42-22.

The Dyip did cut the margin to seven late in the second, but the Bolts would go up 56-43 at the half on Quinto’s jumper from the right baseline.