Meralco nears finals, beats TNT in shootout

Meralco Bolts celebrate after another win over TNT. PBA IMAGES

Meralco moved one win away from a first ever finals after beating top seed TNT in a shootout, 119-113, in Game 3 of their 2016 PBA Governors’ Cup best-of-five semifinals series Saturday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Bolts shoot for a finals berth in Game 4 on Monday.

“We had a lot of contributions and I don’t even know where to start. I was looking at the scoreboard and everybody contributed,” said Meralco head coach Norman Black.

READ: Uichico: TNT needs to match Meralco’s defense, intensity

“I couldn’t be more proud of my players to get over the hump in a way. This was a crucial win for us tonight.”

Bolts forward Reynel Hugnatan led all locals in scoring with 21 points on 5-of-6 shooting from the three-point area.

Alapag made three 3-pointers and needs only two more to match PBA legend Allan Caidic’s all-time record for most threes.

Alapag’s last triple gave the Bolts a 115-111 cushion with 1:09 left.

READ: Meralco’s Dillinger sits out Game 3 due to hamstring injury

Newsome also had three rebounds, eight assists and a couple of highlight-reel dunks inside the last five and a half minutes. His first slam came against TNT import Mychal Ammons and his second, which came just seconds later, was over Ranidel de Ocampo while using the left hand.

Meralco set a franchise record for most 3-pointers in a game after going 17-of-28.

Jayson Castro scored a game-high 28 points that went with 10 assists for the KaTropa, who absorbed their first back-to-back losses this conference.

WATCH: Newsome dunks over Ammons, de Ocampo in succession

TNT played minus Ryan Reyes and asian import Michael Madanly. Reyes had to skip the game feeling under the weather while Madanly is dealing with back spasms.

The game wasn’t decided by a buzzer beater the way Game 3 of the other semifinals series between San Miguel Beer and Barangay Ginebra ended, but it was as thrilling with TNT and Meralco trading big shots.

The match featured 23 lead changes and 13 deadlocks. Both teams shot 54% from the field and combined for only 18 turnovers.

The Scores
MERALCO 119 – Durham 23, Hugnatan 21, Alapag 17, Newsome 16, Hodge 13, Amer 12, Uyloan 9, Faundo 6, Nabong 2, Buenafe 0.
TNT KATROPA 113 – Castro 28, Fonacier 20, De Ocampo 15, Williams 15, Ammons 14, Tautuaa 10, Carey 4, Ababou 3, Rosario 3, Rosser 1, Rosales 0.
Quarters: 28-23, 50-47, 82-84, 119-113