Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 18) – The Meralco Bolts dealt the Blackwater Bossing an unenviable record in the league after a 104-97 win in the 2021 PBA Philippine Cup on Saturday at the DHVSU Gym in Bacolor, Pampanga.
The Bossing’s defeat is their 19th consecutive, which is now a league record for the longest losing streak in history and surpassed the 18-game losing run of Great Taste/Presto in the 1980 season.
The loss meant Blackwater finished its 2021 Philippine Cup campaign without winning a single game with a 0-11 slate, four years after the then Kia Picanto (now Terrafirma Dyip) tallied a winless conference in the 2017 Governors’ Cup.
Allein Maliksi scored most of his points in the second half to lead the Bolts with 21 points and 10 rebounds as they solidified their hold in the second spot with a 7-2 record.
Raymond Almazan also had a double-double outing for Meralco with 15 markers and 17 boards while Trevis Jackson and veteran stalwart Reynel Hugnation each chipped in 14 points for the victory.
The Bolts shot the lights out as early as in the first quarter for a 31-14 lead and further extended it in the second quarter to grab the halftime advantage, 61-38.
Meralco continued to hold off Blackwater in the third quarter, but the Bossing trimmed the lead of the Bolts to a single-digit at the 1:49 mark, 95-100, from a Simon Enciso stepback trey.
Bolts guard Anjo Caram answered back with a three-pointer in the next possession to ensure Meralco’s win.
“Blackwater played much, much better in the second half and made a rally back against us. We did not play it well in the second half, but we played well enough to win the game,” Meralco head coach Norman Black reflected on his wards’ performance.
Nino Canaleta, Mike Tolomia, and Richard Escoto each garnered 15 points to a horrible end in Blackwater’s season.
The Scores:
MERALCO 104 – Maliksi 21, Almazan 15, Jackson 14, Hugnatan 14, Quinto 10, Belo 8, Caram 8, Pasaol 7, Baclao 6, Jamito 1, Pinto 0
BLACKWATER 97 – Canaleta 15, Tolomia 15, Escoto 15, Enciso 14, Torralba 12, Cruz 4, Daquioag 9, Magat 8, Golla 3, Dennison 2, Desiderio 0
Quarterscores: 31-14, 61-38, 85-71, 104-97
