After having it so bad in the very recent past, Meralco is having it so good so far in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
Digging deep in the stretch on a day when their offense just wasn’t as sharp as they want it to be, the Bolts yesterday came bouncing back from a big first half deficit to clip Phoenix Petroleum, 90-87, and stay unscathed at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.
Jarred Dillinger dropped a key triple with 45 seconds left that broke the game’s last tie at 86 as Meralco eventually roared to its fourth straight victory to keep top spot in the import-spiced event.
“It’s been a very big turnaround for us from last conference,” said Meralco coach Norman Black, referring to a 1-11 stint that got them the early boot in the season-opening Philippine Cup.
“We were able to win a game on a (day) when we couldn’t shoot straight.”
The Bolts struggled early and trailed by as many as 12 late in the second period before gutting this one out coming out of the halftime break as they moved within another win of duplicating a franchise-best start they had in this conference last season.
“We were missing our outside shots, our foul shots in the end,” Black continued. “I give credit to the players. They worked hard in the off-season after that early exit (in the Philippine Cup). Our defense held up enough for us today.”
Arinze Onuaku had 17 points and 18 rebounds for the Bolts, whose life has gotten a lot easier with their import able to provide the muscle and intimidation underneath.
Rookie Chris Newsome tossed in 16 and old hand Gary David 13 for Meralco even as RR Garcia paced the Fuel Masters with 15.
Phoenix, which announced its coming to the league with a win last week, took the first loss in franchise history, but not after bungling several chances in the stretch and allowing the Bolts to escape.
Barangay Ginebra also ended its struggles later in the night after clipping Rain or Shine, 103-92, as the Gin Kings rode the inspired effort of import Othyus Jeffers.
Ginebra, after opening up with two straight losses and looking a bit lost, flaunted great form against the Elasto Painters, who brought in a new import in Antoine Walker to take the place of the injured Wayne Chism.
Jeffers, whose worth was suspect in the last Ginebra loss after shooting just eight points, matched his PBA career-high of 38 despite playing with back spasms as he reinvigorated the sagging spirits of the Gin Kings.
It was just the first win in three games for Ginebra but it showed what the team is capable of doing, especially if Jeffers turns it on and decides to take over.
Probably the shortest import in the lost at just over 6-foot-2, Jeffers also grabbed a night-high 20 rebounds in a mammoth effort that all but sealed his spot in the roster.
“That was a relief,” said multi-titled coach Tim Cone of the Ginebra win. “That was a must-win for us. We couldn’t afford to go (0-3). We had to do everything to snap that (losing) streak.”
Greg Slaughter, who missed the first game because of a bout with the measles, scored 16 points and had 14 rebounds for the Kings, who underachieved in the Philippine Cup by bombing out in the quarterfinals.
And while Jeffers played big for the Kings, Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao couldn’t get the same from Wright.
Jetlagged after arriving just over 12 hours before tipoff, Wright struggled from the perimeter, and being a natural point guard for four teams in the NBA, clearly is not a man who could play big in the shaded lane.
The Elasto Painters, who have made the Final Four in eight of the last nine conferences leading to this tournament, took a second straight loss to be at 1-2.
JR Quinahan scored 21 coming off the bench for the Painters, who drew 16 from Wright.
