BLACKWATER is off to its best start in franchise history.
Dennis Miranda saved the day for the Elite, hitting on a game-winning runner to lift his team to a hard-earned 86-84 squeaker over last conference’s finalist Meralco and the Elite notched their second straight win in the 2016-17 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Sunday.
With the game tied at 84-all and ball in hand, Blackwater designed a play that can give anyone a chance to score and thankfully, Miranda saw an opening and drove hard past the Bolts’ defense to score the go-ahead basket and was fouled in the process, though he didn’t complete the three-point play.
Still with 3.8 seconds to try and force overtime or snatch the win, Meralco’s final play went nowhere as Joseph Yeo was forced into a tough fadeaway jumper that didn’t find its mark.
Mac Belo validated that he is indeed for real, scoring a game-high 25 points on 9-of-15 shooting, to go along with six rebounds, to once again backstop the Elite.
“We’re very blessed we’re able to execute well in the second half,” said Belo. “Our chemistry, gumaan na kaya naipanalo namin.”
Blackwater is in its best start in its history in the league and coach Leo Isaac didn’t hold back in expressing his satisfaction.
“Slowly, we can already see some glitter in our team and hopefully it develops pa into our full potential. Other teams will prepare harder for us now,” said a delighted Isaac. “A veteran like Denok (Miranda) rose up to the occasion for us in the last play.”
Belo, the top rookie this season was also the one responsible for tying the game, hitting a three-pointer on top of the key with 1:40 remaining to square things up at 84-apiece.
Meralco was actually ahead by five, 84-79, heading the final two minutes but the Bolts weren’t able to score anymore as Blackwater ended strong with a 7-0 run to take the game away in the closing moments.
Miranda had a nice game himself overall, scoring 11 points and dishing out seven assists off the bench for Blackwater, while Kyle Pascual had 13 points.
It was tight game from start to finish as neither team really had any sort of control at any point.
Cliff Hodge led Meralco with his team-high 14 points.
The scores:
BLACKWATER 86 – Belo 25, Pascual 13, Miranda 11, Dela Cruz 8, Sena 6, Pinto 5, Aguilar 5, Cervantes 5, Forrester 3, Ababou 3, Gamalinda 2, Banal 0, Buenafe 0.
MERALCO 84 – Hodge 14, Grey 11, Newsome 11, Al-Hussaini 9, Amer 8, Daquioag 6, Hugnatan 6, Yeo 5, Chua 4, Faundo 4, Nabong 4, Dillinger 2.
Quarterscores: 22-27, 39-41, 68-67, 86-84
