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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Basketball devider Meralco keeps rolling, fends off Converge to clinch playoff spot

Meralco keeps rolling, fends off Converge to clinch playoff spot

Published Dec 17, 2023 11:06 am

At A Glance

  • Meralco kept the ball rolling and gave Converge a quick and harsh reality check with a 105-99 victory in the 2023 PBA Commissioner's Cup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo on Sunday, Dec. 17.
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Meralco kept the ball rolling and gave Converge a quick and harsh reality check with a 105-99 victory in the 2023 PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo on Sunday, Dec. 17.

 

PBA Images5 (47).JPG

The Bolts blitzed the FiberXers in the first half to build a sizable margin before overcoming a late scare from their opponents to extend their winning run to four for a share of the second spot in the standings with Phoenix Fuel Masters with a 6-1 slate.

The win also formally booked a spot in the playoffs for Meralco, joining Phoenix and Magnolia.

Import Zach Lofton kept his solid play for Meralco with 30 points, built on five triples, along with eight rebounds while Chris Banchero provided support with an efficient outing of 21 points in just 23 minutes of play.

Allein Maliksi also fired four treys to finish with 20 points while Chris Newsome, the hero of the Bolts' first win in the East Asia Super League, wound up with a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds.

The Bolts started tearing the game apart in the first half when they unloaded a 19-4 blast that turned a 15-16 deficit into 34-20 advantage bridging the first and second quarters. Meralco kept its foot on the gas pedal in the second half and led by as many as 29 points.

Despite the struggles of import Jamil Wilson, largely due to the suffocating defense of Meralco, Converge managed to put up a huge fight and threaten the Bolts as the FiberXers nearly erased a 17-point deficit in the final 2:15 of the contest.

Justin Arana, who posted 25 points and 11 rebounds, and Alec Stockton, who added 21 markers, were at the forefront of that assault, unloading a 13-2 finishing kick only to fall short in the end.

Wilson finished with 13 points but had 11 rebounds and six assists to make up for it but will need more from him if the FiberXers want to stay in playoff hunt. Converge is now barely clinging to its tournament life after sliding down further to a 1-7 record in the standings.

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