By Adrian Stewart Co

The Meralco Bolts need a second half push in their 101-95 victory last night over the Phoenix Pulse Fuel Masters in the 2019 Honda PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Gani Lawal top-scored for Meralco with 28 points and 26 rebounds, Baser Amer chipped in 20 markers, Chris Newsome added 18, and Nicholas Salva contributed 15.
From back-and-forth action in the first half, the Bolts found themselves behind 51-46 early in the third before going on a huge run behind Lawal and Amer to take an 80-72 lead.
The Bolts hung on to an 84-79 lead after two treys from Salva but the Fuel Masters countered with a huge rally to cut the deficit down to a single point several times, the last found Phoenix down 94-93.
Meralco then came up with consecutive free throws from Ranidel de Ocampo and Newsome for a 98-93 edge. After Phoenix cut it anew to 98-95, Lawal and Newsome sealed the win with freebies./ASC, WDJ