The Meralco Bolts stymied the San Miguel Beermen, 100-93, in their out of town game at Candon City Arena in Ilocos Sur on Saturday. With the win, the Bolts officially clinched a seat in the quarterfinals of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
Akil Mitchell led the Bolts with 26 points and 16 rebounds while battling with eighth-time PBA MVP June Mar Fajardo for most of the game. Chris Newsome fired 20 and Chris Banchero scattered 19 as Meralco improved to 7-3 for a share of second place in the standings. San Miguel, on the other hand, dropped to 4-5 but is still eighth overall.
Defense Does It for Meralco
While Mitchell, Banchero, and Newsome provided electrifying firepower, it was defense that did the trick for the Bolts as they held the Beermen to under 100. More impressively, Meralco clamped down on San Miguel in the fourth quarter, limiting the league’s winningest team to just 13 points while scoring 20 of their own.
It was also defense that powered the Bolts to their game-winning windup as they held the Beermen to four points in the last five minutes after trailing, 89-86. A triple by Newsome tied the game at 89 while a basket by Banchero right after game Meralco the lead for good, 91-89. Mitchell scored on a three-point play a couple of possessions later to put the reigning Philippine Cup champs ahead, 96-89.
San Miguel’s Import Change Not Enough
San Miguel was once more led by June Mar Fajardo, who posted 20 points and 13 boards in what was otherwise a subdued game for The Kraken. CJ Perez added 16 points, while Don Trollano chipped in 14 off the bench. However, import Malik Pope, brought in to jumpstart San Miguel’s crumpling campaign, only had 14.
Pope, a 6-foot-10 NBA G League veteran, was particularly ineffective in the fourth quarter as he struggled to find his spots against the stingy, smothering Bolts defense.
San Miguel will definitely need more from Pope in their last three games as each will be against a team atop the PBA Commissioner’s Cup standings: NorthPort Batang Pier (January 24), Converge FiberXers (January 26), and TNT Tropang Giga (January 26).
Up next:
Meralco vs. Barangay Ginebra San Miguel on January 29 (Smart Araneta Coliseum)
San Miguel vs. NorthPort Batang Pier on January 21 (Ynares Center)
The Scores:
Meralco (100) – Mitchell 26, Newsome 20, Banchero 19, Reyson 7, Almazan 6, Cansino 6, Mendoza 4, Hodge 4, Rios 3, Torres 3, Quinto 2
San Miguel (93) – Fajardo 20, Perez 16, Pope 14, Trollano 14, Tiongson 9, Tautuaa 8, Cruz 7, Rosales 5
PBA Commissioner’s Cup: Next on Tap
The PBA Commissioner’s Cup continues later today with a twin bill at Ynares Center in Antipolo. The Converge FiberXers look to solidify their hold of second place when they take on Blackwater Bossing in the curtain-raiser. The nightcap will see the NLEX Road Warriors go up against the Phoenix Fuel Masters in a virtual knockout match as the loser gets knocked off the quarterfinals race.
