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By ADRIAN STEWART CO
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Saturday, March 25, 2017
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Meralco Bolts forward Jared Dillinger (20) attempts to shoot past the TNT Katropa during their 2017 Oppo PBA Commissioner’s Cup match on Friday. PBA
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MANILA – The Meralco Bolts kept its hot start in the 2017 Oppo PBA Commissioner’s Cup with a 94-89 victory over the TNT Katropa on Friday night at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
Reinforcement Alex Stepheson led the way with double-double 20 points and 27 rebounds for the Bolts, which moved up to solo first place in the standings with a 3-0 win-loss slate.
Jared Dillinger and Baser Amer added 17 points apiece, while Negrense Reynel Hugnatan and Chris Newsome had 10 points each for the Bolts, which hopes to bounce back from finishing last in the Philippine Cup.
Trailing by four points to start the second half, the Bolts leaned on consecutive hits by Dillinger and Stepheson to tie the score at 61-all. The Bolts continued its run as six straight points by Amer put them on top, 73-63.
The Katropa was able to close the gap at the start of the fourth quarter at 83-80 but the Bolts got consecutive points from rookie Eduardo Daquioag, Amer and Dillinger to surge to a 90-82 lead with a just minute left in the game.
The Katropa made its last run behind import Louis Amundson and Roger Pogoy to come to within four points but free throws by Bacolodnon Justin Chua sealed the win for the Bolts.
“Our defense was solid again,” Bolts head coach Norman Black said. “But we got a lot of (offensive) contributions. Baser was again very good, JD stepped up and played very well, and Alex was really dominating the inside and controlling the rebounds.”
Amundson top-scored with double-double 19 points and 18 rebounds, while Pogoy had 15 markers for the Katropa, which hopes to bounce back against the Phoenix Fuel Masters tonight at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City./PN
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