Meralco zaps lackluster Star, nears PBA semis sweep

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STA. ROSA — Meralco dominated Star from start to finish, 98-74, to gain a 2-0 lead in their 2017 PBA Governors’ Cup semifinals series Tuesday night at Santa Rosa Multipurpose Complex here.

The Bolts showed no signs of slowing down after racing to splitting start, 36-13, early in the second quarter and even led by as much as 30 points, 78-48, entering the fourth period.

“We did a good job at sustaining our effort from start to finish. We executed on both ends very well,” Meralco head coach Norman Black told reporters.

“Total team effort. Everybody stepped up led by AD (Durham) and JD (Dillinger) also hit some big shots,” Black said.

Five players scored in double-digits with Allen Durham, Jared Dillinger and Ranidel de Ocampo tallying 18 points each.

Durham, the reigning Best Import, also hauled down 25 rebounds while Dillinger and de Ocampo combined for nine triples.

Dillinger went 6-of-8 from downtown as he and de Ocampo teamed up with Durham to create a lethal inside and out game that had the Hotshots’ defense guessing.

The Bolts go for the sweep on Thursday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

“We gave to play our best basketball to beat them.”

Mark Barroca had 16 points for Star, which blew a big lead late in Game 1.

The Hotshots shot just 32% from the field while the Bolts displayed a potent offense, hitting 53% of their attempts with 28 assists.