By ADRIAN STEWART CO
Meralco Bolts came up with timely conversions in the endgame as they defeated San Miguel Beermen, 92-89, in the 2023 PBA on Tour at the Tiaong Convention Center in Quezon province on Saturday night, June 10.
Trailing 83-84 after a basket by Ilonggo Jericho Cruz of the Beermen, the Bolts got a conversion from Kier John Quinto to take an 85-84 lead followed by five straight points from Allein Maliksi for a 90-84 advantage with 2:44 left.
Beermen’s Rodney Brondial got two points back for his squad with an inside conversion, but Raymond Almazan responded with a perimeter basket to widen the lead to 92-86.
Cruz scored on a basket and a free throw to pull the Beermen to within 89-92. They had a chance to send the game into overtime, but Allyn Bulanadi misfired his three-point attempt at the buzzer.
Maliksi top-scored for the Bolts with 21 points, including five three-point conversions, while Quinto added 19 markers, with 14 coming in the first two quarters, as they improved to 3-1.
Almazan continued his fine play for Meralco with double-double 14 points and 14 rebounds, while Ilonggo guard Anjo Caram tallied 11 markers to go with seven assists in the win.
With a deeper bench for this particular match, the Bolts showed up the Beermen as they dominated the rebounding, 56-48, and pummeled their depleted rivals, 32-8, on bench points.
Cruz, who returned from a one-game absence, tallied 19 markers to lead the way for the Beermen, while Bulanadi and Marvin Lee contributed 18 points each as the Beermen dropped to 2-2.
Moala Tautuaa had a near triple-double numbers of 12 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, while Brondial added 14 points, nine rebounds and five assists for the Beermen.
Both squads will have a full week of rest before jumping back to action at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig on June 18, where the Bolts will face Terrafirma Dyip at 5:00 p.m. while Beermen meets Converge FiberXers at 7:30 p.m.
MERALCO 92 — Maliksi 21, Quinto 19, Almazan 14, Caram 11, Pascual 8, Pasaol 5, Rios 4, Jose 3, Johnson 3, Hodge 2, Torres 2.
SAN MIGUEL 89 — Lee 18, Bulanadi 18, Cruz 18, Brondial 14, Tautuaa 12, Saldua 6, Lazarte 2, Faundo 0, Baclao 0.
Quarterscores: 25-24, 47-46, 69-73, 92-89./ASC, WDJ