Allen Maliksi sizzled in the second half as Meralco vented its ire on Blackwater with a 125-99 blowout win in the 2023 PBA Governors’ Cup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo on Saturday, Feb. 4.
After being limited to a measly two points in the first two quarters, Maliksi found his scoring touch and torched the Bossing with 28 of his 30 points in the second half while subsequently shrugging off a fiery Blackwater run that cut the once huge 23-point lead to single digit early in the final frame.
Maliksi, who also fired six triples, connived with import KJ McDaniels in the telling 15-3 retaliation from the Bolts after the Bossing came too close for comfort, bringing the Meralco lead down to just seven, 94-87, with still nine minutes left.
That run then reestablished a comfortable 19-point lead on Maliksi’s booming triple before Meralco went on to build the largest lead of the contest at 30, 125-95, in the waning minutes.
McDaniel flirted with a triple-double of 24 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists while Aaron Black added 19. Anjo Caram, who provided a huge spark off the bench with his 16 first half points, settled for 18.
Meralco got back on the winning track after an embarrassing 96-88 loss to Terrafirma last Wednesday to improve to a 3-1 record while sending Blackwater to its second straight loss for a 1-4 slate.
Shawn Glover finished with 20 points and seven rebounds in his last game with the Bossing as his replacement in former NBA player Troy Williams already watching from the sidelines.
RK Ilagan, who ignited the last ditch run, ended up with 15 points while Baser Amer and Jvee Casio added 14 and 13, respectively. Troy Rosario also made his presence felt with 11 points built on three triples in his first game back from injury.