Tough defense keeps Bolts alive alive

MANILA, Philippines — The Meralco Bolts have stayed alive on a three-game roll, and coach Norman Black attributed it to “nine quarters of solid defense.”

“It all started in the fourth quarter of our game against NLEX,” said Black of a lockdown defense they used to string up three successive wins, the latest against the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last night.

“Everybody’s rotating on defense, and everybody’s challenging the shooters. We made some mistakes, but overall we’re doing well,” said Black after the  91-82 victory that put them in a good position now to salvage a spot in the PBA Governors Cup quarterfinals.

With successive wins over the NLEX Road Warriors, the Magnolia Hotshots and the E-Painters, Black and his troops have jacked up their record to 4-6 at ninth place, now just half-game behind joint seventh-placers the TNT KaTropa Texters (4-5) and the NLEX Road Warriors (4-5).

“It’s just another step and we’re taking 12 days off before we play San Miguel. It’s tough because San Miguel is still fighting for position. Still, it’s good as we put ourselves in a position with a chance to make it,” said Black. “We’re given up for dead a few days back.”

Rain or Shine, now with a badly depleted front court minus Raymond Almazan and Beau Belga, suffered a second straight loss and dropped to 2-6 at 10th place.

Though undermanned, the E-Painters engaged the Bolts in a battle before breaking apart in the crunch.

Mike Harris and Chris Banchero both churned out splendid effort, combining for 66 points as Alaska Milk topped Blackwater, 116-109, to catch up with Magnolia and Barangay Ginebra at the helm at 7-2.

“I’m happy to come away with that,” said Alaska coach Alex Compton as they zeroed in on a twice-to-beat incentive in the quarterfinals.

The scores: 

First Game

Meralco 91 – Durham 19, Tolomia 17, Hodge 14, Newsome 12, Caram 11, Hugnatan 10, Salva 4, Amer 2, Jamito 2, Ballesteros 0.

Rain or Shine 82 – Torres 16, Watson 14, Nambatac 13, Daquioag 10, Ponferada 7, Ahanmisi 7, Yap 7, Norwood 6, Borboran 2.  

Quarterscores: 19-19, 44-43, 65-65, 91-82

Second Game

Alaska 116 – Harris 38, Banchero 28, Casio 14, Manuel 12, Racal 7, Teng 6, Baclao 4, Thoss 4, Enciso 3, Exciminiano 0. 

Blackwater 109 – Walker 29, Digregorio 20, Erram 18, Pinto 13, Maliksi 10, Zamar 10, Al-Hussaini 5, Belo 4, Sena 0, Sumang 0, Jose 0.

Quarterscores: 26-29, 57-45, 87-82, 116-109