The Meralco Bolts exorcised the demons of their double black-eye in their previous game as they defeated the Air21 Express, 85-72, in the first game of the PBA Philippine Cup yesterday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
In the second game, the Petron Blaze Boosters stopped a two-game slide with a 98-95 squeaker over Barangay Ginebra.
The Bolts were dead-set on redeeming themselves after losing a 14-point lead in the fourth period of their last outing en route to getting beaten by the then-winless Globalport Batang Pier, 104-105.
Adding insult to injury, four staff members of the team including head coach Ryan Gregorio had their belongings stolen from their locker room by thieves.
Meralco made sure that no such thing would happen last night as they took care of business both on and off the court. According to a report posted on Interaksyon.com, the team had their own security watch over their things.
On the floor, the Bolts made mincemeat out of the defense of the Express in the fourth period, where they erected leads that went as high as 20.
Sol Mercado topscored for Meralco with 24 points while Mac Cardona chipped in 18 as the Bolts improved to 3-2 (win-loss). Air21, on the other hand, dropped to 1-4.
Meanwhile, Alex Cabagnot, despite comitting crucial turnovers down the stretch, led Petron with 25 points but it was Arwind Santos’ 22, 17 rebounds and two blocks that paved the way for the win. Chriz Lutz and Joseph Yeo also played big for the Boosters with 18 and 16, respectively.
Petron , coming off a loss to the Alaska Aces, logged its second win in five games, tying Ginebra in the standings.
BOX SCORES:
FIRST GAME
MERALCO 85 – Mercado 24, Cardona 18, Buenafe 13, Hugnatan 10, Reyes 7, Nabong 6, Artadi 5, Salvacion 2, Hodge 0, Borboran 0.
AIR21 72 – Wilson 16, Taha 9, Canaleta 9, Sena 8, Isip 8, Omolon 7, Reyes 4, Baclao 3, Atkins 2, Escobal 2, Ritualo 2, Arboleda 2.
SECOND GAME
PETRON 98 – Cabagnot 25, Santos 22, Lutz 18, Yeo 16, Pena 6, Washington 4, Ildefonso 4, Lanete 2, Mallari 1, Sison 0, Miranda 0.
GINEBRA 95 – Caguioa 23, Tenorio 15, Raymundo 14, Ellis 8, Wilson 8, Maierhofer 7, Mamaril 7, Helterbrand 7, Maliksi 5, Jensen 1, Hatfield 0.