By ADRIAN STEWART CO

The Meralco Bolts handed the San Miguel Beermen their first defeat in the 2024 PBA Philippine Cup with a 95-92 escape at the Batangas City Coliseum on Saturday night, May 4.

Leading by as much as 17 points late in the third quarter, the Bolts nearly suffered a meltdown in the fourth quarter as the Beermen cut the deficit to 91-93 on a basket by Jaymar Perez with two minutes left.

The Bolts stretched the advantage to 95-91 on two free throws by Chris Banchero, but the Beermen struggled with their own free throws with June Mar Fajardo splitting his charities and Perez missing two free throws.

Clifford Hodge led the way with a double-double of 20 points and 13 rebounds, while Allein Maliksi added 19 markers as the Bolts improved to a 6-5 win-loss slate, securing their place in the quarterfinals round.

Chris Newsome contributed 17 points, while Kier John Quinto and Banchero ended up with 12 and 10 points, respectively, for the Bolts, which played for the first time without the injured Aaron Black.

Fajardo finished with a double-double of 23 points and 19 rebounds, while Jericho Cruz and Celedonio Trollano added 14 markers apiece for the Beermen, which dropped to 10-1, still on top of the standings.

Meanwhile, the Blackwater Bossing turned things around in the fourth quarter to defeat the Phoenix Fuel Masters, 102-83, and end their season with a 4-7 win-loss slate.

The Fuel Masters dropped to 3-8.

Down 65-69 after three quarters, the Bossing opened the final frame with 12 straight points from Frederick Tungcab, Rey Suerte and Jeth Troy Rosario to take a 77-69 advantage.

The Fuel Masters tried to keep the match close, but the Bossing answered with baskets from Rosario, Richard Escoto and Tyrus Hill as the lead reached as high as 19 points at 102-83.

Tungcab spearheaded the offense for the Bossing with 19 points, Rosario finished with a double-double of 17 points and 14 rebounds, while Rey Nambatac contributed 16 points./ASC, WDJ

MERALCO 95 — Hodge 20, Maliksi 19, Newsome 17, Quinto 12, Banchero 10, Caram 6, Almazan 6, Bates 5, Pascual 0, Dario 0, Pasaol 0, Torres 0.

SAN MIGUEL 92 — Fajardo 23, Cruz 14, Trollano 14, Lassiter 9, Perez 8, Romeo 8, Enciso 6, Tautuaa 4, Brondial 4, Manuel 2, Teng 0, Ross 0.

Quarterscores: 27-20, 52-44, 82-66, 95-92.