Bolts thunder to 1st PBA Final

Repel Texters in game 4

MANILA, Philippines - Meralco surged to a huge breakthrough at the expense of TNT KaTropa, 94-88, completing a stunning reversal for a first PBA Final 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 the victory and secure the first berth in the PBA Governors Cup best-of-seven finale at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last night.

It was a rags-to-riches tale as the fourth ranked Bolts ousted the playoff’s No. 1, dealing a cruel blow to their elite sister team.

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 tonight.

“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 hurdled the Texters by 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 the tourney.

Hodge, meanwhile, provided the firepower, hitting a good rhythm to deliver 32 points on a remarkable 12-of-19 clip, including three treys, the last defusing the Texters’ last ditch rally. 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.