The Meralco Bolts opened the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup in a victorious manner.
The Nenad Vucinic and Luigi Trillo-led team defeated the Magnolia Hotshots, 99-94, during their Group A faceoff on Sunday evening, August 18, at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
Leading the way for Meralco were returning import Allen Durham, who had 20 points, 16 rebounds, two assists, and one steal, and Chris Banchero, who posted 14 points, four of which came in historic fashion as it was from the PBA’s first-ever official four-pointer.
“We believe some of our guys can shoot at that range,” said Meralco head coach Trillo of the two four-pointers that they sank in the game.
“What’s nice is that it opens up the floor. Parang nagkakailangan pa nga, but it’s something that can get you back in the game. Moving forward, you have to defend the perimeter better.”
“[Conventionally], you will say that you will go back to the three. But if you look at analytics, if you make it at a good percentage, you have to take those shots,” added Trillo of his team who shot 40 percent from there, albeit from a small sample size.
Also making the win possible for the Bolts were former Ateneo Blue Eagles standouts Jolo Mendoza and Chris Newsome as they both scored 13 points.
After trailing by 11 earlier in the fourth canto, the Hotshots got to within five, 90-85, after an Ian Sangalang bank shot with over three minutes remaining in the game.
However, the 2024 Philippine Cup champions regained composure in the following plays and re-extended their lead to nine after a pair of free throw conversions from Newsome and Cliff Hodge.
A Mark Barroca floater with still over a minute left in the contest cut the Bolts’ lead to seven, 96-89, while another basket from Rome dela Rosa on their next possession cut it further to five.
Glen Robinson III then got his squad to within one possession as he hit a crucial triple. Newsome then split his charities in the next play, in turn, leaving the door open for the Hotshots to tie the game with a trey or go for the win with a four-point attempt.
The former Golden State Warrior decided to go for the win and made an attempt from the 27-foot-line, but his shot went long and eventually allowed Meralco to start the new PBA season at 1-0. (ABS-CBN News)
MERALCO 99 — Durham 20, Banchero 14, Newsome 13, Mendoza 13, Hodge 12, Quinto 9, Black 6, Rios 3, Pasaol 3, Cansino 2, Bates 2, Pascual 2, Caram 0, Torres 0.
MAGNOLIA 94 — Robinson 29, Sangalang 17, Lee 14, Barroca 9, Lucero 7, Ahanmisi 6, Dela Rosa 5, Laput 4, Mendoza 3, Abueva 0, Dionisio 0, Escoto 0.
Quarterscores: 16-12, 43-39, 74-63, 99-94.