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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Basketball devider Meralco downs ROS in Ilagan; Juan GDL impresses for Converge in tuneups

Meralco downs ROS in Ilagan; Juan GDL impresses for Converge in tuneups

Published Sep 21, 2025 02:11 pm

At A Glance

  • Meralco rode on a huge fourth quarter surge and took down Rain or Shine, 95-89, in their exhibition game at the Ilagan Sports Complex in Isabela, Saturday, Sept. 20.
Meralco rode on a huge fourth quarter surge and took down Rain or Shine, 95-89, in their exhibition game at the Ilagan Sports Complex in Isabela, Saturday, Sept. 20.
With the game tied 71-all in the final frame, the Bolts stepped on the gas pedal and unloaded a 10-1 rally that allowed them to pull away for good in the contest that served as the two teams’ tuneup games ahead of the PBA Season 50 opening on Oct. 5.
Allen Maliksi, who is back in the fold after spending most of the last season on the sidelines due to an injury, proved to be the catalyst to the telling run of Meralco, which played without Chris Newsome and Bong Quinto.
Meralco's victory was a huge bounce back performance for the team after it lost to Converge, 109-103, a couple of days prior.
Juan Gomez de Liano lived up to the billing as the second overall pick of the recent draft, scoring two clutch baskets in the end game. He first drilled a four-pointer with 1:33 left before scoring on a layup on the next possession to keep the Bolts at bay.
Gomez de Liano actually continued to impress in the offseason after also helping the FiberXers cruise to a 96-77 victory over Blackwater, which featured third overall pick Dalph Panopio along and Christian David.
Sedrick Barefield did not play due to a shoulder injury.
For Rain or Shine, the loss was its first taste of defeat in the offseason after winning two against Blackwater and NLEX.
The Elasto Painters defeated the FiberXers first with a 114-110 victory over the weekend before escaping the Road Warriors with a 120-119 win.
The loss to Meralco, however, spoiled the first game of Stanley Pringle.
Also coming out victorious so far in the offseason was Magnolia, which drubbed Phoenix 82-70.
It was the first game of newly minted head coach LA Tenorio with the Hotshots.
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