Bolts stop Hotshots cold

Meralco back in top 8

MANILA, Philippines — Locked in on defense, Meralco depowered the usually smooth-running Magnolia machine.

And with this, the Bolts the set tone for an electric 74-51 romp to wheel back into the Magic 8 in the race for the PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinals yesterday at the PhilSports Arena.

Now on a two-game roll and toting a 5-5 card overall, the Bolts dislodged NorthPort (5-6) from eighth spot, with a chance to vie for a higher seeding in the Last-8.

Forced to their all-time lowest output in franchise history, the Hotshots slumped to back-to-back losses and went down to a tie for fourth and fifth with TNT at 5-4.

Raymond Almazan, determined to atone for his controversial “bus lane violation” that led to his one-game suspension two matches ago, stepped up with 12 points and 11 rebounds while putting the clamps on Magnolia slotman Ian Sangalang.

With eight points on 3-of-8 shooting, Sangalang led all scorers for the Hotshots, who couldn’t shake off Meralco’s defending and find offensive rhythm without hustle guys Jio Jalalon (meniscus) and Calvin Abueva (knee).

“It’s a bit of two things. We played well defensively, the guys were on point and we held them to only 21 in the first half,” said Meralco coach Luigi Trillo. “And also they didn’t have Jalalon and Abueva, two players who are big for them. With that being said, we have to give credit to our players all around who did their roles.”

Later, holder San Miguel Beer clinched the No. 1 seed and twice-to-beat bonus as it roared to 9-0 at the expense of Robert Bolick-less NLEX, 120-103.

June Mar Fajardo had a 20-21 outing while CJ Perez fired 30 to tow SMB closer to an 11-game elims sweep. The Road Warriors fell to three straight and 5-4 with Bolick sitting out to attend to his wife and newborn son.