MANILA – Meralco Bolts showed its steadiness in the endgame. It defeat Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings, 101-95, in the 2021-2022 PBA Governors’ Cup last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
After seeing its early lead turned to an 87-89 deficit, the Bolts went on a 9-0 scoring blast behind Kier John Quinto, Tony Bishop and Chris Newsome, and free throws by Aaron Black for a 96-89 lead.
The Kings responded with two free throws from Christian Standhardinger to cut it two 91-96 but a booming triple by Allein Maliksi increased the Bolts edge to 99-91 with over a minute left.
Barangay Ginebra made its last push on a two-pointer by Justin Brownlee. But a layup from Chris Newsome with under a minute left secured the win for the Bolts.
Bishop finished the match with 30 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists. Chris Banchero and Chris Newsome added 12 markers apiece as the Bolts surged to 4-0 win-loss slate.
Brownlee tallied 27 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists, while Earl Scottie Thompson and Standhardinger added 18 and 17 markers, respectively, as the Kings dropped to 3-2.
In the first game, Matthew Wright scored on a go-ahead basket as the Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters (4-2) defeated the slumping TNT Tropang Giga (2-4), 93-92.
Trailing 89-92 with over two minutes left following a basket by TNT’s Mikey Williams, Phoenix managed to trim the deficit to 91-92 on a conversion by Jason Perkins with 27 seconds left.
Wright then swung the lead to the Fuel Masters at 93-92 on an inside hit with three ticks left. Jeth Troy Rosario still has a chance to win it for the Tropang Giga but was blocked by Perkins.
Wright finished the match with double-double 27 points and 10 assists, Perkins added 12 markers, while new import Dominique Sutton had 13 points and 10 rebounds./PN
