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[av_heading heading=’Meralco one victory away from first PBA finals stint ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
By ADRIAN STEWART CO
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MANILA – The Meralco Bolts leaned on ReynelHugnatan’s unprecedented three-point outburst to move closer to the 2016 Oppo PBA Governor’s Cup finals with a 119-113 win over the TNT Katropa in Game 3 of the best-of-five semifinals on Saturday at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
Trailing 109-104 with over three minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, Hugnatan drained back-to-back triples and converted two-of-three from the free throw line to surge the Bolts ahead, 112-109.
After the Katropa trimmed the deficit to 112-111, Jimmy Alapag converted a triple to increase the lead to 115-111 before the Bolts sealed the win with free throws from Chris Newsome and Allen Durham.
Hugnatan, who is more known for his inside game, drilled five-of-six from the three-point arc to finish with 21 points for the Bolts, which can clinch its first-ever PBA finals stint with a repeat over the Katropa on Monday.
From a tight start in the opening match, the Bolts leaned on the three-pointers of Hugnatan and Durham for a 24-17 lead. The lead later grew to 28-20 on free throws by Chris Newsome and Bryan Faundo before the Katropa trimmed it to 28-23.
The Bolts continued its surge in the second frame behind Faundo, Clifford Hodge and Alapag for a 45-36 edge. But the Katropa responded behind Jayson Castro and Ranidel de Ocampo to come to within 50-47 on a halfcourt heave by Larry Fonacier.
Both teams went on a tight exchange in the third frame with the Bolts slightly ahead 56-55 on a Hugnatan triple, but the Katropa had its own three-point barrage to surge ahead at 84-82 heading into the fourth quarter.
From a see-saw start in the final quarter, the Bolts surged to a 94-91 lead on consecutive points by Baser Amer. After an exchange of leads, the Katropa moved to a 109-104 lead on a dunk by De Ocampo before Bolts ended the match with a 15-4 run.
Castro led the way with 28 points, while Fonacier chipped in 20 markers for the Katropa, which played without injured Ryan Reyes and Asian import Michael Madanly./PN
SCORES
MERALCO 119 – Durham 23, Hugnatan 21, Alapag 17, Newsome 16, Hodge 13, Amer 12, Uyloan 9, Faundo 6, Nabong 2, Buenafe 0
TNT 113 – Castro 28, Fonacier 20, Williams 15, De Ocampo 15, Ammons 14, Tautuaa 10, Carey 4, Ababou 3, Rosario 3, Ganuelas-Rosser 1, Rosales 0
QUARTERS – 28-23, 50-47, 82-84, 119-113
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