Meralco takes 1-0 lead over San Mig Coffee

Games today

Mall of Asia Arena

5:45 p.m .- Alaska vs. Air21

8p.m.- Ginebra vs. Rain or Shine

The Meralco Bolts pushed the defending champions San Mig Coffee Mixers to the brink of elimination after they pulled off a narrow 88-85 win at the start of their best-of-three quarterfinals series of the 38th PBA Commissioner’s Cup last night at the Araneta Coliseum.

Eric Dawson bucked a swollen left knee to lead the fifth-seed Bolts’ to the crucial win by tallying a team-high 25 points, 18 rebounds, four assists and two steals, .

The six-foot-nine import hurt his knee in their 118-116 overtime win over the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters last Wednesday night.

Dawson came up big in the game for the Bolts as he scored eight of the team’s final 10 points.

Dawson hit two free throws in the final 4.4 seconds that gave the Bolts a crucial three-point lead.

Dawson then intentionally fouled Denzel Bowles in San Mig’s last possession. The ploy worked for Meralco as Bowles his first attempt. He purposely missed his second free throw shot but Dawson collared the rebound to seal Meralco’s win.

Ronjy Buenafe and Sunday Salvacion added 13 points apiece for the Bolts, who will try to finish off the Mixers when they clash again on Sunday.

Bowles led the fourth-ranked Mixers with a game-high 37 markers.