Bolts restore power; Beermen slam Batang Pier ?
Cliff Hodge returned from injury and provided added offensive punch and defensive muscle as the Bolts regained their winning ways, dealing Kia another severe beating following their breakthrough win versus Rain or Shine on Saturday. Philstar.com/File Photo
MANILA, Philippines — Governors Cup runner-up Meralco simply outclassed a badly depleted Kia Picanto squad, snapping a three-game slump with an emphatic 105-76 victory in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last night.
Cliff Hodge returned from injury and provided added offensive punch and defensive muscle as the Bolts regained their winning ways, dealing Kia another severe beating following their breakthrough win versus Rain or Shine on Saturday.
Niño Canaleta, Jared Dillinger, Anjo Caram and Baser Amer produced double-digit outputs while Hodge put in eight points on a perfect 4-of-4 field shooting that went with six rebounds, three assists and one steal in 19 minutes of action.
Later in the night, June Mar Fajardo erupted for a personal season high of 34 points while Brian Heruela delivered 17 while filling in for the injury-hit Alex Cabagnot as San Miguel Beer turned back GlobalPort, 107-93, to stretch its unbeaten run to five games.
Fajardo and Heruela, the former lead stars of University of Cebu in college play, ran the show as SMB foiled GlobalPort’s upset bid and handed the Batang Pier a third loss against two wins.
The two Cebuanos themselves presided over the Beermen’s lethal 18-to-nothing run from 83-85 down en route to their fifth win after earlier victories over Phoenix Petroleum, Meralco, TNT KaTropa and NLEX.
First Game
Meralco 105 – Canaleta 17, Dillinger 13, Caram 12, Amer 10, Hodge 8, Faundo 8, Hugnatan 7, Tolomia 7, Ballesteros 6, Newsome 6, Baracael 5, Salva 5, Sedurifa 1, Lanete 0, Bono 0
KIA 76 – McCarthy 17, Yee 14, Gabriel 13, Galanza 9, Tubid 8, Celda 8, Caperal 3, Jamon 2, Sara 2, Khobuntin 0, Cabrera 0, Ababou 0
Quarterscores: 27-21, 60-41, 79-58, 105-76
Second Game
SMB 107 – Fajardo 34, Lassiter 17, Santos 17, Heruela 17, Ganuelas-Rosser 10, Ross 6, De Ocampo 4, Pessumal 2, Mamaril 0, Semerad 0, Vigil 0
Globalport 93 – Pringle 23, Nabong 15, Anthony 15, Arana 11, Grey 9, Gabayni 6, Sargent 4, Guinto 4, Juico 3, Elorde 3, Taha 0, Flores 0.
Quarterscores: 22-25, 43-47,74-72,107-93
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