Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 18) – The Meralco Bolts continue their electrifying start in the 2021 PBA Philippine Cup after beating five-time All-Filipino champions San Miguel Beermen, 93-87, on Sunday at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
Chris Newsome bannered the team with 17 points while last season’s Rookie of the Year Aaron Black added 14 markers to post a 2-0 start for Meralco.
Meralco head coach Norman Black said winning in the early part of a conference against a heavily-stacked team like San Miguel that has yet to gain its full momentum is a big advantage.
“You always have to get wins at this point of the season. We don’t want to get left behind because it will be a struggle to catch up later. To put San Miguel behind is a big deal for us,” said Black.
The first quarter saw San Miguel tally a 25-18 lead courtesy of Terrence Romeo’s eight point-outing in the first 12 minutes of action.
Meralco narrowed the gap in the second quarter as team captain Reynel Hugnatan, rookie Alvin Pasaol, and Bong Quinto provided the firepower for a 42-41 lead at halftime.
The Bolts became aggressive offensively, with backup guard Nard Pinto scoring all of his 11 points mostly from the rainbow area midway in the third quarter, to post a double-digit lead at 60-48. Meralco ended the third frame with its largest lead, 74-59.
San Miguel suffered a blow in the eighth minute of the final quarter after Romeo twisted his ankle while getting past a defender. The Romeo injury did not stop the Beermen from coming back, as a Marcio Lassiter trey in the 5:31 mark trimmed their deficit to two, 77-79.
But the Bolts showed they were more determined to win the game as they staged a 10-0 scoring run from back-to-back threes of Aaron Black and a jump shot by Newsome to keep the momentum on their side until the final buzzer.
Romeo led San Miguel in scoring with 18 points while big man Mo Tautuaa and newly acquired guard CJ Perez added 17 points apiece in their opening game loss.
Six-time MVP June Mar Fajardo, who played his first game with the Beermen after an injury on his right tibia sidelined him during the 2020 season, was only limited to five points and five rebounds in 18 minutes of play.
The scores:
MERALCO (93) – Newsome 17, Black 14, Hugnatan 13, Pinto 11, Quinto 9, Belo 7, Maliksi 7, Pasaol 7, Almazan 4, Hodge 4
SAN MIGUEL (87) – Romeo 18, Tautuaa 17, Perez 17, Lassiter 11, Santos 8, Fajardo 5, Ross 5, Cabagnot 4, Gotladera 2
Quarterscores: 18-25, 42-41, 74-59, 93-87
