By ADRIAN STEWART CO

The Meralco Bolts snapped a two-game losing streak with a convincing 103-85 win over the Blackwater Bossing in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City on Wednesday night, May 21.

Negrense Raymar Jose finished with 12 points, five rebounds and two assists as the defending champion Bolts returned to their winning ways to improve to a 4-5 win-loss slate.

Chris Newsome paced the Bolts with 19 points, seven rebounds and three steals.

Rookie CJ Cansino chipped in 14 points, while Chris Banchero also delivered an all-around effort with 13 points, seven boards and four assists.

Brandon Bates tallied 10.

After taking a slim 22-18 edge in the opening quarter, Meralco broke the game open in the second behind strong inside plays from Raymond Almazan, Jose and Newsome to build a 52-39 halftime advantage.

Blackwater kept it close in the third frame, cutting the deficit to 62-76, but Meralco pulled away for good in the fourth, with Cansino’s basket stretching the lead to as high as 22 points, 97-75.

“We still have two more games left before the playoffs start, and it is so nice to see our guys play together in this game,” Meralco head coach Luigi Trillo said.

Christian David led the Bossing with 24 points and 10 rebounds.

Sedrick Barefield and Richard Escoto added 23 and 11 markers, respectively.

Blackwater slipped to a 1-5 record.

Meanwhile, the TNT Tropang 5G overcame a slow start to take down the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, 111-103.

Roger Pogoy, John Paul Erram and Calvin Oftana served as a three-headed monster for the Tropang 5G as they recovered from an early 14-point deficit to secure their fourth consecutive victory.

Pogoy led the way with a season-high of 35 points, while Erram chipped in a career-high of 31 markers to go with six rebounds, two steals and two blocks.

Oftana contributed 28 markers for TNT, who improved to a 4-3 win-loss slate./ASC, WDJ