The returning Bolt gave Meralco a much-needed jolt.
Chris Banchero didn’t skip a beat, even after missing the Meralco Bolts' first three games.
In his return from a hamstring injury, Banchero made his presence right away and helped Meralco hack out a 109-95 win over the TNT Tropang Giga in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup on Sunday.
The Fil-Italian finished with 18 points on 3-for-5 shooting from the three-point area. He also had two rebounds and four assists.
After the match at the Philsports Arena, Banchero admitted feeling a little jittery at first but settled down just in time to make an impact.
“It felt good,” he said. “Obviously the first five minutes I had to get used to. But once I settled down [it was all good].”
His return was marred by a verbal altercation between him and TNT import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson.
But Luigi Trillo is just glad the cat-quick guard, who was also tasked to contain Jayson Castro all game long, back at his disposal again.
“To see him and the other guys in the groove is important in what we do,” he said.
Meralco now holds a 3-1 win-loss record, while TNT fell to an even 2-2 slate.
The Bolts will look to build on this win as they take on the NLEX Road Warriors on December 3. TNT, on the other hand, will try to bounce back on Friday, December 1, as they face off against the NorthPort Batang Pier.
(MDB)