By ADRIAN STEWART CO
KJ McDaniels came up with crucial free throws as Meralco Bolts pulled off a come-from-behind 86-84 win over Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots in the 2022-2023 PBA Governors’ Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Sunday night, February 26.
Trailing 63-71 after three quarters, the Bolts countered with a huge 14-6 scoring blast in the fourth quarter to force a deadlock at 77-all late in the match.
The Bolts then held the Hotshots scoreless in the last 1:25 of the match and relied on crucial free throws by Chris Newsome and McDaniels to secure the victory.
McDaniels finished with double-double 19 points and 15 rebounds, while Newsome ended up with 16 markers on top of three rebounds and two assists as the Bolts stayed in sixth place with a 5-3 slate.
Aaron Black fired away 13 points, which went with six rebounds and four assists, while Kier John Quinto contributed 12 markers, including two outside conversions for the Bolts.
Antonio Hester tallied 23 points and 15 rebounds. Paul Lee logged an 18-7-5 statline, but missed a potential game-winning triple at the buzzer as the Hotshots dropped to a 4-4 win-loss record.
Meanwhile, Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters leaned on rookie Encho Serrano’s career-game to score a come-from-behind 106-103 victory over the Converge FiberXers.
Serrano tallied all of his career-high 28 points in the second half, including a go-ahead layup that broke the 103-all deadlock with 19 seconds remaining in the game.
After a missed basket by Converge’s Maverick Ahanmisi, Phoenix widened the advantage to 106-103 on a split free throw by Tyler Tio before FiberXers’ Jamaal Franklin missed a triple at the buzzer.
Reinforcement Du’vaughn Maxwell had double-double 19 points and 16 rebounds, while Tio and Jason Perkins contributed 16 markers apiece for the Fuel Masters.
MERALCO 86 — McDaniels 19, Newsome 16, Black 13, Quinto 12, Hodge 8, Maliksi 7, Caram 5, Banchero 4, Almazan 2, Jose 0.
MAGNOLIA 84 — Hester 23, Lee 18, Jalalon 11, Barroca 11, Abueva 10, Dela Rosa 5, Escoto 4, Reavis 2, Corpuz 0, Ahanmisi 0, Dionisio 0.
Quarterscores: 20-18, 37-39, 63-71, 86-84./ASC, WDJ