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Meralco rides second half flurry to turn back Ginebra

Sports | Basketball

Meralco rides second half flurry to turn back Ginebra

By Reynald I. Magallon

At A Glance

Meralco gave Barangay Ginebra a dose of its own medicine, charging back from a 16-point deficit to pick up a hard-earned 89-75 victory for back-to-back wins in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Meralco gave Barangay Ginebra a dose of its own medicine, charging back from a 16-point deficit to pick up a hard-earned 89-75 victory for back-to-back wins in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

CJ Cansino kept the Bolts within striking distance before Chris Newsome spearheaded a huge fourth quarter effort for Meralco which outscored the Kings, 33-15, to complete the turnaround.

Newsome unloaded 14 of his 19 points in the second half – none bigger than a booming left corner triple and a drive to the basket that gave the Bolts the lead for good, 69-68, halfway through the payoff period.

Cansino chipped in 18 points while Bong Quinto scored all but one of his 11 points the final frame as the Bolts finally evened their record 2-2 after dropping their first two games.

Brandon Bates was also solid after hauling down 17 rebounds to go with his six points to help give Meralco the much-needed morale boost heading into their third game in six days when the Bolts take on the Magnolia Hotshots on Sunday, Oct. 19.

RJ Abarrientos had 14 points while Japeth Aguilar and Stephen Holt had 13 and 12 for the Kings who failed to sustain their strong first half showing.

Ginebra took a 54-38 spread early in the first half and it looked to be cruising to the win even during the third frame when the Kings kept a 14-point barrier, 61-47.

The Bolts, however, went on a huge 36-8 run bridging the final three quarters to suddenly take the driver seat, 83-69, and eventually take the win.

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