Meralco put up a defensive masterclass and stifled Barangay Ginebra, 91-73, to snap a two-game slide in the 2024 PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Friday, March 15.

The Bolts led from start to finish all thanks to the combination of their hot shooting and suffocating defense that held the Kings, who were coming off a two game win streak with an average of 107.5 points, to their lowest output this season.

While Meralco’s defense got the job done, Allein Maliksi carried the offensive load for the Bolts, firing away 25 points built on four triples while Chris Newsome amply supported him with 19 points, six rebounds and four assists.

Much of the highlight, however, went to the Bolts impenetrable defense who held the Kings to a measly 27 points in the first half – an output that is on a normal day, easily a one quarter score for the very talented Ginebra squad.

Perhaps, the absence of Scottie Thompson contributed to the Kings collapse as they struggled to find the point of attack against the Bolts defense.

Even the team’s leading scorer in the first two games in Jamie Malonzo, who was averaging 24.5 points heading into the contest was limited to just four points on a miserable 2-of-10 clip.

As a team, Meralco held the Ginebra to a 33-percent shooting from the field while forcing them to 19 turnovers against the Bolts with only six errors. As a result, the Kings’ 73 points are the team’s lowest since the 82-77 loss against Phoenix last conference.

Meralco led by as many as 31 points, 71-40 late in the third frame after a booming triple from Maliksi and that was basically the game as Ginebra’s ‘Never-say-die’ mantra was nowhere to be found.

Maverick Ahanmisi paced Ginebra with 14 points while Christian Standhardinger and Japeth Aguilar finished with 13 apiece.

The Kings slide to a 2-1 record in the standings while the Bolts improved to a 2-3 slate