MANILA – Meralco Bolts went on a spirited endgame run to oust Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots in overtime, 113-107, in the 2022-2023 PBA Governors’ Cup quarterfinals last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
From a 103-all score with under two minutes left, Kier John Quinto surged the Bolts ahead at 106-103 with a corner triple followed by another outside hit by KJ McDaniels for a 109-103 spread.
The Hotshots managed to cut it to four points twice via free throws from Andy Mark Barroca and Paul Lee but free throw hits by Aaron Black and Chris Newsome sealed the win for the Bolts.
Newsome finished with career-high 33 points to go with 11 rebounds, seven assists and two steals, while McDaniels added double-double 27 points and 10 rebounds for the Bolts.
Black also had double-double 16 points and 12 rebounds, while Chris Banchero hoisted four outside conversions to end up with 16 points for Meralco, which needed only one game to enter the next round due to its twice-to-beat incentive.
Paul Lee tallied 22 points, including three three-pointers, Antonio Hester had double-double 21 points and 19 rebounds, while Barroca and Calvin Abueva had 18 and 15 markers, respectively, for the Hotshots.
In the first game, no. 1 seed TNT Tropang Giga advanced to the semifinals round with a 132-105 domination of no.8 ranked Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters in their quarterfinals round encounter.
Holding to a slim 66-64 lead at the half, the Tropang Giga went to work in the third quarter behind conversions from Mikey Williams, Roger Pogoy, Glenn Khobuntin and Bacolodnon Justin Chua for a 100-83 advantage.
The Tropang Giga continued to pull away in the final quarter as baskets by Pogoy, Williams and Jayson Castro gave them the biggest lead at 120-92 via a dunk from Rondae Hollis-Jefferson.
Pogoy top-scored with 25 points, to go with 11 rebounds, seven assists and four steals, Castro and Glenn Khobuntin chipped in 20 and 19 markers, respectively, while Hollis-Jefferson had triple-double 18 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists for TNT.
BOX SCORE:
MERALCO 113 – Newsome 33, McDaniels 27, Banchero 16, Black 16, Maliksi 9, Almazan 7, Quinto 3, Hodge 2, Caram 0, Pasaol 0, Jose 0.
MAGNOLIA 107 – Lee 22, Hester 21, Barroca 18, Abueva 15, Jalalon 9, Dela Rosa 8, Dionisio 6, Escoto 4, Wong 4, Corpuz 0.
Quarterscores: 22-21, 47-49, 76-78, 103-103, 113-107./PN
