At A Glance
- Shonn Miller put together an explosive debut as Meralco pulled the plug on the late Magnolia fightback with an 85-80 win in the PBA Commissioner's Cup Saturday night, Jan. 6, at the University of San Agustin Gym in Iloilo City.
Shonn Miller put together an explosive debut as Meralco pulled the plug on the late Magnolia fightback with an 85-80 win in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Saturday night, Jan. 6, at the University of San Agustin Gym in Iloilo City.

The new Bolts import exploded for 33 points and 20 rebounds in his first game – none bigger than his putback with 1:40 left that stopped a furious 12-3 Hotshots rally late to pick up the massive victory.
Meralco not only boosted its bid for a Top 4 finish and one of the four quarterfinals incentives but also claimed a share of the second spot with Phoenix with identical 7-2 records just behind pacesetter Magnolia (9-2).
The Bolts built a double-digit spread, 73-61, midway through the final frame even after a tight defensive contest in the first three quarters, but the Hotshots rallied down and came within two, 72-74.
Miller stopped the bleeding with a jumper before Cliff Hodge nailed a free throw to keep a five-point cushion. However, that couldn’t fully halt Magnolia’s run and even cut the deficit down to one, 76-77.
Miller scored on a stick back off a Hodge miss before the veteran forward stepped up with a clutch jumper to keep a five-point lead. Mark Barroca and Tyler Bey scored two more baskets but not enough to take the lead back with Chris Newsome icing the game with four-straight free throws.
Newsome chipped in 17 points, four rebounds and four assists for the Bolts.
Bey, although struggling with his offense early on, still paced Magnolia with 23 points while Barroca chipped in 18.