Bolts 95, Dyip 83

The Meralco Bolts showed little ill effects from a long layoff and the absence of a couple of key players, marking its return to PBA Philippine Cup action with a 95-83 beating of Terrafirma last 16 September at the Don Honorio Ventura State University Gym in Bacolor, Pampanga.

Bong Quinto and Anjo Caram stood out the most for coach Norman Black as they alternately took the lead for majority of the game before Reynel Hugnatan and Raymond Almazan joined in for a sustained fourth quarter surge that fully pulled the Bolts away from the Dyip's reach.

In the end, Meralco solidified its hold on second-running spot with a 6-2 spot and has the clearest shot to finish at No. 2 at the end of the 11-game eliminations and grab the last win-once advantage in the quarterfinals.

That fact surprised Black as he was expecting his team to be dislodged from its position following their long break since their last game Sept. 3 as some members of the team have to go through the league's health and safety protocols.

"It just happened that way. I thought that by the time we came back to the games the other teams would be ahead of us," admitted Black. "But certain teams losing to certain teams kept us in second place."The loss, its seventh in 10 games, practically shut the door on Terrafirma's bid to gain outright inclusion among the eight teams advancing to the next round.

Aldrech Ramos' 15 points and Joseph Gabayni's double-double of 14 point and 10 rebounds led the Dyip, who are now left hoping they win against Alaska on Sunday and that their resulting 4-7 record would propel them into a possible playoff for a quarterfinals berth.

Terrafirma had its chance to keep alive its hopes of playing off for an outright quarterfinals slot but blew that after failing to take advantage of Meralco's acute manpower shortage.

Black was actually assisted in the game by Gene Afable and Patrick Fran and the Bolts also played minus Cliff Hodge and Chris Newsome, who were both yet to be cleared. Starting playmaker Aaron Black also exited the game early after injuring his right hand in a collision with Joseph Gabayni.

Six Bolts still managed to score in double figures, led by Quinto's 17 and eight rebounds. Caram came off the bench for 13 points, five assists and three steals and the two were largely responsible for their team staying in front.