By Peter Atencio
Allein Maliksi led with 22 points for the Meralco Bolts as they turned back the NLEX Road Warriors, 97-93, on Friday night, moving a win away from a semifinal seat in the 48th Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.
Maliksi made eight points in the final period, after the Bolts weathered a late attack from the Road Warriors.
It was Maliksi’s two charities in the last nine seconds, which finalized the count for the Bolts.
Robert Bolick Jr. unloaded 48 points for the Road Warriors, who fell by as much as 12 points midway in the game.
Bolick’s jumper in the last 1:05 handed the Warriors their last edge, 93-92.
Anjo Caram shot 15 points for the Bolts, who trailed 37-49, in the last 3:02 of the second period off Bolick’s two charities.
Michael Miranda also scored in double digits for NLEX with 14 points.
Meralco now has a chance to end the series on Sunday with the momentum now in their hands.
The Bolts can do this if they win their next clash with the Road Warriors in Game 2 at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum at 6:15 p.m. this Sunday.