Meralco win puts Alaska in dangerous spot

Games today:

Mall of Asia Arena

5:15 p.m.- Talk ‘N Text vs. Rain or Shine

3:00 p.m.- San Mig Coffee vs. Air21

THE MERALCO Bolts picked up a crucial win going into the homestretch of the elimination round as they shackled the Alaska Aces, 74-65, last night in the 39th PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Bolts tallied their fifth win in 12 games to tie with the Barako Bull Energy Colas at fifth spot in the team standings.

The Aces fell to ninth spot after dropping to 4-8 (win-loss). The number nine and 10 squads after the elimination round will be booted out.

Gary David went three-for-six from the three-point line to lead the Bolts with 24 points. Jared Dillinger and Cliff Hodge finished with 10 points each as the Bolts avenged their 82-91 loss to the Aces in their initial meeting last Dec. 18.

Dondon Hontiveros and Cyrus Baguio performed well for the Aces in the team’s first encounter, where they fired 24 and 23 markers. The two were non-factors in the rematch with Baguio scoring just seven and Hontiveros one.

Meralco is now 2-0 since acquiring 15-year veteran Danny Ildefonso. Ildefonso only had two points in his second game as a Bolt but had seven rebounds, three assists, two blocks and a steal in 26 minutes of action.

Ildefonso, who moved to Meralco after being left unsigned by Petron, debuted with 14 points, six rebounds, five assists, two steals and one block in the Bolts’ 92-88 overtime win over the Air21 Express last Jan. 4./EDITORIAL ASSISTANT CALVIN D. CORDOVA