Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Meralco Bolts pulled away late in the fourth quarter to down the Mahindra Enforcers, 94-86, in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum on Sunday (April 3).
Baser Amer, Jimmy Alapag, and Cliff Hodge conspired down the stretch, sparking a furious 13-to-nothing blitzkrieg on their way to their seventh win in nine games.
Inside the final five minutes, Amer canned two three-pointers, while Alapag uncorked one in between those as Meralco regained the 87-86 upperhand after trailing by six points.
Hodge followed it up with five straight points before Alapag put the final nail in the coffin with a pair of freebies.
“It’s a big win for us,” said Meralco coach Norman Black, whose team grabbed the top spot. “We have a good chance of holding the twice-to-beat advantage.”
The energetic Hodge led the way for the Bolts with 25 points, 11 rebounds, and three assists.
Import Arinze Onuaku and Chris Newsome added 16 and 15 markers, respectively.
Mahindra, meanwhile, dropped to a 4-5 win-loss card.
Augustus Gilchrist paced the Enforcers with 20 points.
