Bolts rip F Masters, advance to playoff

MANILA, Philippines - Meralco picked up from where it left off before the All-Star Week, stinging Phoenix Petroleum, 81-66, to formalize its playoff entry in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last night.

The Bolts stayed in top form despite their long 16-day layoff, engaging the Fuel Masters in a tough defensive battle through the first three quarters before pulling away en route to a third straight win and seventh in eight games overall.

Baser Amer, fresh from a first-ever All-Star appearance, sustained a breakout showing in the tourney, scoring a game-high 20 points and adding three assists and one rebound as Meralco sent Phoenix reeling with a fifth loss in eight games.

“Another good game from Baser. He’s really coming into his own. He’s taking the leadership in this team and he’s very efficient offensively and defensively,” said Meralco coach Norman Black of Amer who is one of the key factors in their surge in the mid-season tourney.

Though assured of a playoff berth, the Bolts are likely to step up their drive even more in chase of a Top Two finish for a twice-to-beat incentive in the quarterfinals.

 “We’ll try to stay around the top because there are two other teams playing very well. SMB hasn’t lost a game while Ginebra has won four straight,” said Black.

In the first game, Greg Smith, KG Canaleta and Mike Digregorio provided night-long firepower coming off a 10-day break as Blackwater smothered NLEX, 104-98, to stay in the hunt for a playoff berth.

Smith piled up 24 points, 18 rebounds and seven assists in a near triple-double job while Canaleta and Digregorio strung up nine three-pointers and 46 markers in all as the Elite notched a second win in their last four outings.

Digregorio, a sophomore pro acquired by Blackwater from the free agent pool, sparkled with a career-high 22 points laced with 4-of-8 three-point shooting.

Blackwater thus closed in on at least the eighth-running Phoenix Petroleum and ninth-running GlobalPort with a 2-6 overall card while NLEX got buried deeper in the cellar at 0-8.

The Road Warriors, with a woeful 2-17 card from last conference, are out of the playoff race as they play their last three games.