The Meralco Bolts pulled away from the newly-crowned Japan B.LEAGUE champions Utsunomiya Brex, qualifying for the quarterfinals of the Basketball Champions League Asia.
All Meralco needed was one spark.
That spark came in the second period and the Bolts went on to thwart Utsunomiya Brex, 97-86, in the Basketball Champions League Asia at the Sheikh Saeed Bin Maktoum Sports Hall on Monday, June 9 (PH time).
Chris Banchero, John Egbunu, and Aaron Black dropped six points each to lead the 30-20 second-quarter assault, allowing the Bolts to take a 50-38 lead at halftime.
Finally rediscovering the poise that made a world of difference in their PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup conquest, the Bolts managed to preserve that halftime edge and kept the Japan B.LEAGUE champions at bay the rest of the way.
Banchero led the local group with 17 points, three assists, and a steal for the Bolts, who are now assured quarterfinal slot with a 1-1 record in Group B.
Jordon Varnado and Glynn Watson also wound up with 17 points apiece, while Cliff Hodge finished with 16 points, three rebounds, and an assist. Egbunu posted 12 points and 13 rebounds.
“Good team win tonight. We bounced back from a diff game last night. (But) still have things to work on,” said Varnado.
Isaac Fotu led all Utsunomiya scorers with 20 points that went with six rebounds, and assist and a steal. B.LEAGUE MVP DJ Newbill added 15 points, five rebounds, and eight assists.
Finn Delany and Makoto Hiejime had 12 and 11 points for the Brex, respectively.