MANILA – Rey Mark Belo staged an impressive performance in his Meralco Bolts debut as they crushed the NorthPort Batang Pier, 85-63, at the start of the 2021 PBA Philippine Cup last night at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
The Roxas City, Capiz-native Belo tallied a double-double of 27 points and nine rebounds to spearhead the Bolts’ offense, while Allein Maliksi chipped in 14 markers, including four three-point conversions.
The Bolts heated the evening with early hits from Maliksi, Chris Newsome, and Clifford Hodge to score 18-7. Meralco maintained the lead at 31-21 midway in the second quarter, but late baskets from the Batang Pier scraped the deficit to 36-31.
Meralco banked on Belo’s third-quarter outburst to come to within 60-41 before stretching it to 79-55 in the fourth quarter via back-to-back triples by Belo and rookie Alvin Pasaol.
Sidney Onwubere top-scored for the Batang Pier with his 13 points, while Robert Bolick scored 11 markers in his first game, back from an anterior cruciate ligament tear injury two years ago. Jamie Malonzo contributed nine points in his PBA debut.
On the other hand, Rain or Shine Elasto Painters leaned on a huge defensive stop in the endgame to tally an 83-82 escape over the NLEX Road Warriors and give head coach Chris Gavina a winning debut.
Holding to an 83-82 lead with 13 seconds left, the Painters committed a costly turnover, but the Road Warriors failed to capitalize as Anthony Semerad’s game-winning attempt was defended well by ROS’ Javee Mocon.
Rey Nambatac anchored the Painters’ offense with 19 points, Beau Belga had a solid outing with 17 points, seven rebounds, and five assists, as Javee Mocon and Jewel Ponferrada hit double-digit output with 12 and 10, respectively.
Ilonggo Kiefer Ravena posted 23 points and seven assists, Kevin Alas dropped 13 markers, while Don Trollano and Ilonggo Jericho Cruz fired 11 and 10 points, respectively, for the Road Warriors.
BOX SCORE:
MERALCO 85 – Belo 27, Maliksi 14, Quinto 8, Hodge 6, Pasaol 5, Newsome 4, Black 4, Jose 4, Pinto 3, Jackson 3, Hugnatan 3, Caram 2, Jamito 2, Almazan 0, Canete 0.
NORTHPORT 63 – Onwubere 13, Bolick 11, Ferrer 9, Malonzo 9, Anthony 6, Rike 3, Lanete 3, Taha 2, Gray 2, Balanza 2, Elorde 2, Faundo 1, Doliguez 0, Subido 0.
QUARTERSCORES:
18-9, 36-29, 60-41, 85-63./PN
