Meralco secured a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals after leaning on a big third quarter to beat Phoenix Super LPG, 109-90, Friday, March 11 to conclude its elimination round campaign in the PBA Governors’ Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Import Tony Bishop and Allein Maliksi played the starring role as the Bolts took full command after a tight first half to snap a three-game skid and end the eliminations with a 7-4 record.
The win-loss slate assured the Bolts of the No. 4 seed and the twice-to-beat bonus against either the TNT Tropang Giga or San Miguel Beermen.
That will be determined in TNT’s match against NorthPort which was being played as of posting time.
TNT will create a three-way tie at 7-4 with Meralco and San Miguel Beer, but will claim the twice-to-beat due to a superior quotient.
If that occurs, Meralco takes on SMB, with a chance at avenging its 115-110 defeat despite leading by 26 points.
“The win is really important because we lost the last three games and of course when you’re losing, your confidence takes a hit,” said Meralco coach Norman Black, whose team also absorbed losses to Alaska and Magnolia Pambansang Manok.
“So we really had to try to rebuild our confidence going into this game knowing that we would have a twice-to-beat advantage if we won despite the fact we had lost three straight,” he added.
Bishop, whose production dipped during the slump, regained his old form with 35 points, 13 rebounds, five assists and three steals while Maliksi fired 27 points on 9-of-16 shooting.
Two Meralco players also scored in double figures in Cliff Hodge with 14 and Bong Quinto 11.
Phoenix ended the elimination phase at 5-6, needing a NorthPort loss to TNT in order to stay alive with a playoff for the No. 8 seed with the Batang Pier tomorrow.
Otherwise, the quarterfinal cast is completed and the quarters will commence tomorrow.
The result also shoved TNT and the Alaska Aces, who went 6-5, into the quarterfinals.
The Bolts only led 56-55 at the half, but broke loose in the third as they held the Fuel Masters to four points in the first seven minutes while in the process scored 24 on the other end to take an 80-59 advantage.
Phoenix tried to set up another Meralco meltdown, pulling to within 12 points at 88-76 with less than 10 minutes remaining in the payoff period.
But it was the closest Phoenix could ever get to a comeback as Meralco maintained its huge lead until the end.
Import Du’Vaughn Maxwell had 26 points and 12 rebounds for Phoenix.
The scores:
MERALCO 109 — Bishop 35, Maliksi 27, Hodge 14, Quinto 11, Banchero 8, Newsome 7, Black 3, Almazan 2, Pasaol 2, Belo 0, Canete 0, Caram 0.
PHOENIX 90 — Maxwell 26, Jazul 16, Wright 13, Perkins 12, Rios 11, Manganti 5, Garcia 4, Demusis 3, Melecio 0, Salva 0, Porter 0.
Quarters: 37-28, 56-55, 88-68, 109-90.