PBA: Meralco turns again Converge to safe quarterfinals berth

Meralco Bolts’ import Zach Lofton. –PBA IMAGES

ANTIPOLO — Meralco raced to a 29-point lead after which held on late for a 105-99 victory over Converge within the PBA Commissioner’s Cup on Sunday.

Contemporary off a breakthrough win within the East Asia Tremendous League, the Bolts turned to import Zach Lofton, Chris Banchero and Allein Maliksi to carry off the FiberXers and tab a spot within the quarterfinals.

“It’s simply a few video games, however clearly Zach has been a distinct [kind of] weapon for us. He’s allowed us to go small,” coach Luigi Trillo mentioned on the heels of the triumph at Ynares Heart right here that had the Bolts rise to 6-1 within the convention.

“We’ll simply must experience this (momentum),” he went on. ” “At the very least we’re there already–within the quarters. However now now we have an opportunity to get to the High 2.”

Lofton scored 30 factors to guide all of Meralco. Banchero tossed in 21, whereas Maliksi 20 to assist hand Converge its seventh loss in eight conferences, pushing the FiberXers on the point of elimination.

Converge drew 25 factors and 11 rebounds from Rookie of the 12 months Justine Arana, and 21 extra from Alec Stockton. Each children managed to carry the membership to inside eight, 103-95, within the remaining 1:32.

However with Jamil Wilson restricted to only 13 factors, the FiberXers fell in need of finishing their comeback.

Trillo rued the close to meltdown, stressing that Meralco can’t afford to make such a lapse in its subsequent recreation.

“Now we face Ginebra, which has a number of lineup (mixtures)–huge lineup, a [lineup of] guys who may change,” he mentioned.

Converge, in the meantime, battled a Magnolia facet whose scorching streak lastly got here to an finish after a shocking loss to Rain or Shine in Cagayan de Oro Metropolis on Saturday.

Meralco is the third workforce within the event to safe a playoff spot, becoming a member of Magnolia and Phoenix.

The Scores:

Meralco 105 – Lofton 30, Banchero 21, Maliksi 20, Quinto 13, Newsome 11, Black 4, Rios 3, Pascual 3, Almazan 0, Torres 0, Bates 0.

Converge 99 – Arana 25, Stockton 21, Wilson 13, Balanza 11, Winston 10, Ambohot 6, Santos 5, Racal 4, Nieto 2, Melecio 2, Delos Santos 0.

Quarters: 27-18, 55-37, 80-61, 105-99