Meralco made sure to have enough momentum heading into the playoffs, obliterating Terrafirma with a 42-point rout, 124-82, to close out its elimination assignments in the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 21.

The Bolts, already assured of a quarters spot, showed no mercy and still went on to demolish the shorthanded Dyip to complete their biggest winning margin in franchise history just days before the formal start of the quarterfinals.

Meralco closed out the group stage with a 7-3 slate, sealing the Group A second seed which will put them in a best-of-five clash against the Group B third seed, which can either be Barangay Ginebra or San Miguel.

The Dyip, who were missing last game’s hero Stanley Pringle along with Christian Standhardinger and Juami Tiongson, were simply no match to the Bolts who seemed to have already got a grasp of the victory the moment they built a double-digit spread, 34-15 in the opening frame.

Allen Durham only had 14 points although he dropped 10 of those during the telling first quarter assault. He also added seven rebounds and three assists to his name.

Taking full advantage of the extended time on the floor was Alvin Pasaol, who topscored the game with 21 points, although most of it came when the outcome was already done and settled in the final frame.

CJ Cansino finished with 15 points, Raymar Jose with 12 and Brandon Bates with 11 as head coach Luigi Trillo had the luxury to rest his starters after the lead ballooned to 33, 62-29, at one point in the third frame.

Terrafirma, for its part, suffered its fifth worst loss in franchise history, capping a miserable conference that saw the Dyip finish dead last in the Group A standings with a 1-9 slate.

Antonio Hester paced Terrafirma 18 points and 11 rebounds while Louie Sangalang had 17.

The Scores :

MERALCO 124 – Pasaol 21, Cansino 15, Durham 14, Jose 12, Bates 11, Banchero 9, Hodge 8, Almazan 8, Caram 7, Newsome 6, Torres 4, Mendoza 3, Quinto 2, Pascual 2, Rios 2

TERRAFIRMA 82 – Hester 18, Sangalang 17, Hanapi 12, Hernandez 11, Olivario 7, Carino 5, Ramos 4, Grospe 4, Cahilig 2, Ferrer 2

QUARTERS : 34-15, 66-37, 91-61, 124-82