MANILA – Meralco Bolts drew first blood in the 2021-2022 PBA Govenors’ Cup finals with a 104-91 domination of Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Allein Maliksi spearheaded the offense with 22 points, including five triples, while Tony Bishop chipped in double-double 20 points and 12 rebounds for the Bolts.
Clifford Hodge contributed 17 points. Aaron Black and Raymond Almazan added 12 and 10 markers, respectively, as the Bolts took a 1-0 edge in the best-of-seven series.
From a seesaw battle early in the first quarter, the Bolts surged to a 25-23 upperhand behind 15 early points from Maliksi and inside conversions from Black.
Meralco continued to pound on Ginebra in the second period behind inside baskets by Hodge and outside conversions from Maliksi for a 53-42 halftime edge.
The Kings started the third quarter strong as they trimmed the deficit to 50-55 but the Bolts created separation anew with baskets from Maliksi and Bishop for a 78-60 lead.
Barangay Ginebra tried to mount a fight back in the fourth quarter but the Bolts had its answers from Black, Maliksi and Hodge as the lead reached its largest at 21 points.
However, the series opener win seemed to have gotten into Meralco players heads early as they turned physical late in the game with Almazan and bench warner Raymon Jamito throwing elbows at the opposing player.
Another Meralco reserve in Negrense Raymar Jose, who was only inserted with under a minute left, tried to engage Ginebra’s Arvin Tolentino to a fist fight after the match.
Justin Brownlee led the Kings with 27 points, Christian Standhardinger added double-double 20 points and 14 rebounds, while Earl Scottie Thompson had 19 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.
BOX SCORE:
MERALO 104 – Maliksi 22, Bishop 20, Hodge 17, Black 12, Newsome 8, Quinto 6, Belo 5, Banchero 2, Jose 2, Hugnatan 0, Caram 0, Baclao 0, Canete 0, Pasaol 0, Jamito 0.
GINEBRA 91 – Brownlee 27, Standhardinger 20, Thompson 19, Tolentino 6, Chan 5, Tenorio 5, Caperal 4, Ayaay 3, Pinto 2, Mariano 0, Onwubere 0, Devance 0, Enriquez 0.
Quarterscores: 25-23, 53-42, 78-60, 104-91./PN
