Bolts in semis; Beermen stalled

MANILA, Philippines - The Meralco Bolts returned to the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Final Four via a come-from-behind 104-97 conquest of the NLEX Road Warriors in a duel of sister teams at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last night.

Reynel Hugnatan, Cliff Hodge, Jared Dillinger and Chris Newsome delivered in the clutch with Arinze Onuaku clipped by a double-teaming defense all throughout, each scoring at least 15 points to help steer the Bolts to the best-of-five semifinals versus the winner of the Tropang TNT-Alaska Milk matchup.

“If you told me before the start of the tournament that we would be the first to qualify to the semifinals, I won’t believe you. It’s been a good ride so far. Hopefully, we continue to improve and get better than what we did last year,” said Meralco coach Norman Black.

Ricardo Ratliffe came through with a huge double-double game with 33 points and 29 rebounds while Allein Maliksi and PJ Simon produced 23 and 22 points, respectively, as the Star Hotshots stopped the San Miguel Beermen, 108-99, to force a do-or-die setto in their quarters matchup

“For as long as there’s still possession, we have a chance. It’s now who’s gonna get lucky on Wednesday,” said Star coach Jason Webb.

The Hotshots lived to force the KO match as they fought back from double-digit deficits in the first half and pummeled the Beermen down the stretch.

Earlier, the Bolts got to the Commissioner’s Cup semifinals last year with import Josh Davis. They lost the series after Davis went down with a strained calf.

 “There’s still a lot of questions on how we react on the way teams are defending Arinze at the post. They’re limiting his shots. That’s going to be the key to our success,” Black added.

The Road Warriors held Onuaku to only 10 field-goal attempts, but the other key Meralco players found a way to attack NLEX’s weak side – the biggest key in their turnaround from a nine-point deficit at 78-87 with six minutes left to play.

Hugnatan, Dillinger, Hodge and Newsome struck on kick-out passes by Onuaku, and the Bolts raced ahead at 96-92 with time down to 1:16.

At 96-94, Onuaku came through with a big shot as the wide-bodied Meralco import tipped in a missed three-point attempt by Dillinger, and Meralco regained a two-possession advantage with 27 seconds to go.

The Bolts hung tough to the finish and thus sent the Road Warriors to the sideline along with early league casualties GlobalPort, Blackwater, Mahindra and Phoenix Petroleum.

Meanwhile, defending champion Tropang TNT and Rain or Shine also try to clinch spots in the Final Four, going for the kill versus Alaska Milk and Barangay Ginebra today in their respective best-of-three quarters matchups, also at the Big Dome.

The Kings and the Elasto Painters take the floor first at 4:15 p.m. before the Texters and the Aces face off at 7 p.m.

The Tropang Texters subdued the Alaska Aces, 106-99, while the Elasto Painters rallied to beat the Gin Kings, 88-84, last Sunday.

Aside from NLEX’s stifling defense on Onuaku, the Bolts also had to overcome the hot shooting of Al Thornton and Garvo Lanete.

Thornton exploded for 38 points that went with 14 rebounds, four assists and two blocks while Lanete erupted for 21 markers laced by four three-pointers.

The Road Warriors took control most of the way, opening a commanding lead for the last time at 84-75 on a 13-5 start in the final canto highlighted by two triples by Lanete and one from Mark Borboran.

Curiously, NLEX opened that lead even with Thornton resting on the bench.

The scores:

First Game

MERALCO 104 – Hugnatan 20, Hodge 19, Dillinger 18, Newsome 15, Onuaku 13, Amer 9, Alapag 8, Caram 2, Buenafe Ro. 0, Buenafe Ry. 0, Ferriols 0.

NLEX 97 – Thornton 38, Lanete 21, Enciso 9, Borboran 8, Taulava 8, Anthony 6, Alas 4, Villanueva J. 2, Villanueva E. 0.

Quarterscores: 19-22, 38-43, 70-71, 104-97

Second Game

STAR 108 – Ratliffe 33, Maliksi 23, Simon 22, Barroca 10, Melton 8, Pingris 5, Reavis 5, Sangalang 2, Cruz 0.

SAN MIGUEL 99 – Fajardo 24, Wilkerson 22, Santos 16, Lassiter 11, David 8, Ross 8, Tubid 6, Cabagnot 2, Espinas 2, Arana 0, De Ocampo 0, Reyes 0.

Quarterscores: 20-26, 42-53, 74-75, 108-99