MANILA – Blackwater Elite came up with huge hits down the stretch to beat Meralco Bolts, 94-91, in overtime at the start of the 2019 PBA Commissioner’s Cup last night at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
After an exchange of hits from Elite’s Alex Stepheson and Bolts’ Gani Lawal early in overtime, the Elite surged to a 93-89 edge on a basket by Rey Mark Belo and free throws by Michael Digregorio.
The Bolts made its last push at 91-93 on an inside basket by Lawal but a split free throw by Elite’s rookie Bobby Ray Parks Jr. and a missed shot from the Bolts sealed the win for the Elite.
Stepheson led the way with double-double 21 points and 31 rebounds, while Digregorio added 21 markers, including five triples, to give Elite rookie coach Aries Dimaunahan a winning start.
Parks had a slow start in his PBA debut but still managed to finish with 20 points and eight rebounds. The former UAAP MVP, however, committed eight turnovers.
From a seesaw battle in the first half, the Bolts went on to build its largest lead at 50-39 early in the third but the Elite countered with a run from Stepheson and Digregorio to take a 64-63 edge.
The Bolts opened the fourth with a 7-0 run for a 70-64 lead but the Elite clawed its way back to take an 84-80 edge before Lawal came up with back-to-back hits for the Bolts to force an overtime at 85-all.
Meanwhile, Alaska Aces leaned on a strong second half showing of Chris Banchero, Simon Enciso and import Robert Daniels to score a 111-98 victory over Columbian Dyip.
Trailing 48-56 early in the third, the Aces leaned on consecutive triples by Enciso and inside hits by Daniels for a 15 points. It grew to as high as 91-71 early in the fourth on five straight points by Banchero.
Daniels finished the match with double-double 25 points and 16 rebounds, while Banchero added 20 markers for the Aces. Kyle Barone had 30 points and 22 rebounds for the Dyip./PN
