AFTER bucking a sketchy first half, Meralco stepped it up when it mattered most in the waning minutes as it tripped Mahindra again, 104-99, this time in a playoff to lock the No. 4 seed and claim the last twice-to-beat incentive in the coming quarterfinals of the 2016 Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup Wednesday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Allen Durham poured in a game-high 34 points on top of seven rebounds to lead the way for the Bolts.
With the game hanging in the balance, the Bolts suddenly turned the tide in their favor, erecting a key 18-5 surge in the middle of the payoff period to turn a 78-84 deficit into a 96-89 lead, with 2:19 remaining after a triple from Jared Dillinger.
They never looked back even as the Enforcer threatened towards the end, inching to within just two, 101-99, with 17.3 ticks left after three freebies from Nino Canaleta.
But that was Mahindra’s last hurrah as Meralco closed it out in the final seconds.
“We came out with more energy in the second half. It was a tough game and we were able to grind it,” said Meralco coach Norman Black.”
Since these two teams will also be paired against each other in the quarterfinals, it is like a virtual best-of-three series with Meralco now gaining the upperhand as it is a win away from the semifinals.
It just needs to repeat against the Enforcer in the quarterfinals to advance.
“Mahindra’s playing well this conference and we expect another tough game in the next one. We’re not expecting any less,” added Black.
Dillinger came off the bench to have a strong showing, scoring 22 points, including four triples on 50 percent shooting, for the Bolts.
It was a game of spurts as both teams tasted significant leads through out. Mahindra led in the first half and early parts of the third and fourth periods and Meralco was ahead in the latter part of the third frame. It came down to the final 12 minutes wherein the Enforcer carried a 73-69 edge.
However, the Bolts were the ones, who finished burly down the stretch to take the crucial triumph.
James White led Mahindra with a team-high 22 points, but only managed nine in the second half as he faded in the clutch.
The scores:
MERALCO 104—Durham 34, Dillinger 22, Amer 16, Newsome 12, Faundo 7, Hodge 4, Hugnatan 4, Al-Hussaini 2, Nabong 2, Alapag 1, Uyloan 0, Caram 0.
MAHINDRA 99—White 22, Ramos 20, Taha 16, Canaleta 10, Revilla 10, Yee 10, Ballesteros 6, Digregorio 5, Jaime 0, Agovida 0, Bagatsing 0, Guinto 0, Paniamogan 0.
Quarterscores: 26-29, 41-53, 69-71, 104-99