Meralco improved to 3-3 in the PBA Season 48 Philippine Cup after notching their second straight victory against Terrafirma on Wednesday, April 3.
Bong Quinto came up big in the clutch as Meralco repulsed Terrafirma, 86-83, in the PBA Season 48 Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao on Wednesday, April 3.
Quinto scored the last six points for the Bolts inside the final two minutes to give his squad its second win in a row that leveled their card to 3-3.
They thus climbed to the fifth spot which they share with the Dyip who slipped to a similar record.
The former Letran Knight broke an almost three-minute-long dry spell with a dagger of a triple that allowed Meralco to regain an 82-81 lead.
His biggest basket came with 14.2 ticks remaining after scoring an easy deuce from Allein Maliksi’s pass on the break to hike their advantage to four, 85-81.
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Stephen Holt, though, refused to fold for Terrafirma.
With 6.8 left on the clock, Holt canned a pair of free throws to close in, 85-83.
But Quinto would completely shut the door on the Dyip as he made his first shot on the line before missing the second one which Cliff Hodge secured for the victory.
Quinto finished with 18 points on two triples he laced with seven rebounds and four assists.
Norbert Torres added 15 points, including 12 in the second half. He also had five rebounds and two blocks.
"The thing with these players is they have the poise to do things well. Sabi namin di biro Terrafirma because theyre a good solid team, theyre well coached. They have the pieces na," said Meralco coach Luigi Trillo.
Meanwhile, Holt fired 20 points including seven in the final four minutes of action as the Dyip fell to 3-3.
Juami Tiongson chipped in 20 points, while Javi Gomez De Liano and Aldrech Ramos had 11 points apiece.
The Scores:
MERALCO 86 – Quinto 18, Torres 15, Almazan 14, Black 7, Mendoza 7, Newsome 7, Banchero 6, Maliksi 6, Hodge 4, Pascual 2, Jose 0, Rios 0.
TERRAFIRMA 83 – Tiongson 20, Holt 20, Gomez de Liano 11, Ramos 11, Sangalang 6, Go 4, Camson 4, Carino 4, Cahilig 3, Mina 0, Calvo 0, Alolino 0.
Quarterscores: 19-25, 39-46, 63-65, 86-83