Meralco ousts TnT for first PBA finals stint in franchise history

MANILA, Philippines – At the expense of illustrious sister team TNT KaTropa, Meralco achieved a huge breakthrough, completing a stunning reversal of the playoff top seed to book a first PBA Finals entry in franchise history.

The Texters returned in full force but the Bolts still held their own, this time riding high on Cliff Hodge’s career-best 32-point performance to carve out a 94-88 win and secure the first berth in the PBA Governors Cup best-of-seven finale at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Monday night.

The Bolts will be keen observers as titleholder San Miguel Beer and crowd darling Barangay Ginebra square off in the deciding Game Five of their own Final Four showdown also at the Big Dome at 7 p.m. Tuesday night.

“All credit goes to the team for working so hard in practice. We know that we’re not as strong as TNT but if we focus on playing as a team, we can do anything,” said Meralco coach Norman Black of their shocking conquest of the Texters.

The Bolts, the fourth-ranked team in the playoffs, got past the Texters in sweeping the next three games after dropping the series opener.

Two nights after lighting the board with a franchise-record 17 three-pointers in a 119-113 triumph, the Bolts, still minus the injury-hit Jared Dillinger, shifted to playing tough defense and held the Texters to their lowest output in a game in the tourney.

They didn’t lack the firepower on offense especially with Hodge hitting a good rhythm to deliver 32 points on a remarkable 12-of-19 clip, including three treys. Before the game, the energetic Fil-Am forward averaged only 11.8 points with a tournament-high of 19.

Allen Durham played his usual game in piling up 19 points and 16 rebounds while Chris Newsome and Reynel Hugnatan also hurt the Texters as they helped fuel their decisive fourth-quarter romp.

The Bolts heated up as the game progressed, scoring 18 in the first quarter, 22 in the second, 24 in the third and 30 in the payoff period.

Trailing by three, 40-43, at the half, the Bolts slowly surged ahead in the second half and went on to advance to the PBA Finals for the first time since taking over the Sta. Lucia franchise in 2010.

“It’s not over yet, but I can’t be more proud of my players and happy for the whole Meralco community,” said Black, now having a crack at a personal record of winning championships with four different ball clubs. He has won titles with San Miguel Beer, Sta. Lucia and TNT.

 The Texters failed to live to fight another game even with the return of gunners Michael Madanly and Ryan Reyes.

They found it hard to get going and suffered a terrible blow on the exit of main man Jayson Castro with 2:20 to go on a second flagrant infraction. They were down, 76-83, on Castro’s ejection.

The Texters actually waged one last hurrah, coming to within three at 85-88 on a three-point bomb by Ranidel de Ocampo with 1:03 left to play.

Hodge, however, personally scuttled TNT’s bid in making his own they with time down to 48 seconds.

Before running into the gritty Meralco bunch, the Texters were 11-1 (win-loss) from the elims to quarterfinals.