It was a statement game that nearly slipped away – before Meralco Bolts steadied itself just in time.
The Bolts flirted with disaster after enjoying a 20-point lead, but survived, hacking out a 110-106 win over the TNT Tropang 5G in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium last 7 April.
"They (TNT) hung around. We’re up by 12 in the last five minutes but they persevered. But a win is a win, and we take it," said Meralco coach Luigi Trillo on their escape that gave them a piece of second place with NLEX at 4-1, behind unbeaten Rain or Shine (4-0).
"We gave them 51 free throws, and that’s a concern. But at the end of the day, it’s a W, and that’s what important," added Trillo as they survived TNT’s fourth-quarter storm and handed the Tropang 5G a second loss against the same number of wins.
CJ Cansino played the fireman’s role and took the Best Player of the Game honors with 19 points, four rebounds and the same number of assists.
"(A key) siguro yung experience namin in the last series. Grabe ang sakit, at ayaw namin maulit. Yung mga nangyari, dala namin sa next game," said Cansino, still feeling the heartbreak of their 1-4 loss to the Tropang 5G in the Philippine Cup semis.
Marvin Jones put up a decent stand against TNT’s touted import Bol Bol, with the Meralco reinforcement producing 29 points and 12 rebounds.
Bol had almost the same numbers with 28 markers and 12 rebounds but had a crucial lapse and missed their last attempt at an equalizer.
TNT’s 35-point fourth-quarter explosion went down the drain as the Tropang 5G saw their two-game run halted by the Bolts.
An RR Pogoy three, and two free throws each from Rey Nambatac and Jordan Heading made it a 107-105 game but Pogoy airballed a three, and Bol's kick-out pass went straight to Chris Newsome, who knocked down two free throws for 109-105 lead.
Bol was fouled with Meralco in penalty but only made one free throw, and missed that contested four-point shot in TNT's final few offensive plays. He went 9-of-16 from the free-throw line.
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