Sep 18, 2021

Bolts stay on track for coveted No.2 spot, hand Bossing PBA record 19th straight loss

MERALCO took another step closer to setting a franchise history Saturday while ensuring Blackwater gets its own special, albeit ignominious, niche in the record books.

The Bolts carved out a 104-97 victory over the Bossing to stay on track to grabbing the last coveted slot in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Don Honorio Ventura State University Gym in Bacolor, Pampanga.

The loss, its 11th and last in the tournament and 19th in all in as many games since last year, meant Blackwater now holds the dubious distinction of holding the longest losing streak in league history.

Blackwater also became the first team to go without a win in a conference since the Kia Picanto also went 0-11 in the 2017 Governors, Cup.

With its second straight win that jacked its record to 7-2, Meralco stayed firmly at second-running spot which it would clinch should it rack up more victories in its remaining games against Barangay Ginebra and NLEX next week.

Sponsored content:
The Bolts have never before scaled such heights and if they do pull it off they would also gain the lone remaining twice-to-beat advantage against the seventh-ranked team in the ensuing quarterfinals.

Things could have been drastically different as, after a lackadaisical first half and trailing by as much as 46-75 in the third period, the Bossing suddenly sprang to life behind their younger players led by Mike Tolomia, Richard Escoto and Joshua Torralba.

When veterans KG Canaleta and Simon Enciso joined in, Blackwater has crawled its way back to within 95-100, still 1:47 left.

The Bolts would not be denied, however, as Anjo Caram made a triple seconds later to widen their lead and a charity split by Raymond Almazan following a Canaleta drive in the final seconds sealed the victory.

In all, the Bossing's 59 second half points gave them their biggest half during their downward spiral, putting to naught Escoto's career-high 15 matched by Canaleta and Tolomia. Torralba also set a new career-best with 12.

Sponsored content:
Allein Maliksi celebrated his 34th birthday with a game-high 21 points on top of 10 rebounds while Almazan logged his own double-double of 15 and 17 along with three blocks. (NC)

The scores:

Meralco 104 - Maliksi 21, Almazan 15, Jackson 14, Hugnatan 14, Quinto 10, Belo 8, Caram 8, Pasaol 7, Badao 6, Jamito 1, Jose 0, Pinto 0.

Blackwater 97 - Canaleta 15, Tolomia 15, Escoto 15, Enciso 14, Torralba 12, Daquioag 9, Magat 8, Cruz 4, Golla 3, Dennison 2, Paras 0, Semerad 0, Amer o, Desiderio 0, Nabong 0.

Quarters: 31-14, 61-38, 85-71, 104-97