By Adrian Stewart Co

Meralco Bolts stayed alive in the 2020 PBA Philippine Cup semifinals following a come-from-behind 83-80 win over Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings in Game 4 last night at the AUF Sports Arena & Cultural Center in Pampanga.

Down 79-80, Negrense center Reynel Hugnatan surged the Bolts ahead at 81-80 with a two-pointer with 15 seconds left. After a block by Bolts’ Raymond Almazan on Kings’ Stanley Pringle, Chris Newsome widened Meralco’s lead to 83-80 with a layup.

Hugnatan finished the match with 19 points, while Newsome and Clifford Hodge contributed 16 markers apiece as the Bolts leveled the best-of-five semifinals series at 2-2.

The Bolts set the tone on offense early behind Hodge and Newsome for a 26-21 advantage. The lead grew further for Meralco in the second period as it reached 44-31 at the half.

The Kings, however, responded with a huge rally in the third canto behind LA Tenorio and Jared Dillinger to seize a 64-60 edge but the Bolts made it close in the fourth and even took a 79-76 edge on a triple by Hugnatan and twinner by Newsome.

Pringle finished the match with 18 points, seven rebounds and six assists, Dillinger added 15 markers, while Earl Scottie Thompson added 13 markers and nine rebounds for the Kings./ASC, WDJ