By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Meralco Bolts rode on the exploits of Raymond Almazan in the fourth quarter as they beat sister team TNT Tropang Giga, 97-91, in the 2022 PBA Commissioner’s Cup yesterday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Down 78-80 early in the fourth quarter, the Bolts got conversions from KJ McDaniels, Kier John Quinto and Chris Banchero to take an 83-80 lead before Almazan unloaded seven inside points for a 90-86 upperhand.

TNT trimmed it to 88-90 but a basket by Aaron Black followed by a free throw and another inside hit from Almazan widened Meralco’s advantage to 95-88 with half a minute left in the game.

Almazan finished the game with 21 points, with 10 coming in the fourth quarter, to go with 11 rebounds and four blocks as the Bolts racked up their third straight victory for a 4-5 win-loss slate.

McDaniels chipped in double-double 26 points and 15 rebounds, Black flirted with triple-double 17 points, 11 rebounds and six assists, while Quinto and Banchero had 13 and 10, respectively, for the Bolts.

Cameron Oliver tallied double-double 25 points and 20 rebounds, Jayson Castro and John Paul Erram had 19 and 10 markers, respectively, as the Tropang Giga slumped to 4-5.

Mikey Williams made his return from team suspension to score 20 points, including four outside conversions, but committed six turnovers for the slumping Tropang Giga.

MERALCO 97 — McDaniels 26, Almazan 21, Black 17, Quinto 13, Banchero 10, Maliksi 9, Pascual 1, Jose 0, Pasaol 0, Caram 0, Hodge 0.

TNT 91 — Oliver 25, M. Williams 20, Castro 19, Erram 10, Oftana 6, K. Williams 5, Pogoy 4, Khobuntin 2, Heruela 0, Ganuelas-Rosser 0.

Quarterscores: 21-23, 49-54, 73-74, 97-91./ASC, WDJ