STOPPED on their tracks in the series opener, the Meralco Bolts regrouped and struck back at the Barangay Ginebra Kings, 103-91, in Game Two of their PBA Philippine Cup best-of-seven semifinal showdown at the MOA Arena in Pasay City Sunday night.
The Bolts played with a lot better poise and composure from their 92-88 defeat on Friday, blowing away a 13-point halftime lead but staying together to salvage the game and send the series back to scratch.
"That's one those we talked about... keeping the poise whatever comes," said Chris Newsome, among the players that kept the Bolts together amidst the Ginebra storm in the final half.
"We're more aligned today," said coach Luigi Trillo on the difference from their Game One showing where they engaged the Kings in a seesaw battle in the first half but faded away in the second.
"But we have things to improve on. And we know Ginebra's going to come back, and we have to be ready," Trillo added.
Sponsored content: In Game Two, the Bolts were ready for the Kings' final-half charge, standing their ground and igniting their own key run in the crunch to avoid falling to a 0-2 hole.
Newsome, Allein Maliksi, Cliff Hodge and Chris Banchero were at the forefront of their bid, with the Meralco shock-troopers having their significant help as they negated Christian Standhardinger's career-high 41-point game also marked by 11 rebounds.
Maliksi fired 25 points, Newsome rifled in 20, Hodge had a 13-point and 10-rebound double-double while Banchero added 11 points and eight rebounds.
Each of these four players provided a push in their crucial tear from 79-80 down on the way to the 12-point victory.
The Bolts seized the early initiative and sat on a 55-42 cushion at the half on a massive attack marked by a high 52-percent shooting.
Sponsored content: Maliksi led the charge of the starters with 14 points on a 5-of-9 field clip and four of five charities as the Meralco bench mob also made a big impact, outscoring their Ginebra counterpart, 21-6.
Striking off the bench for the Bolts were Jed Mendoza, Anjo Caram, Bong Quinto, Kyle Pascual and Brandon Bates.
The Kings were held to 35-percent overall clip in the first half with just one three-point shot made off nine tries.
But then the Kings threatened to steal the game as they woke up from a stupor and raced ahead, 72-70, on a three-pointer by Stanley Pringle shortly before the end of the third.
The Bolts won't fold up, though, in face of that Ginebra assault. They came out victorious in the end. (SB)
The Scores:
MERALCO 103 - Maliksi 25, Newsome 20, Hodge 13, Banchero 11, Almazan 7, Quinto 7, Mendoza 6, bates 6, Pascual 5, Caram 3, Rios 0, Torres 0.
GINEBRA 91 - Standhardinger 41, Ahanmisi 14, Pringle 13, j.Aguilar 7, Thommpson 6, Cu 6, Onwubere 3, Tenorio 1, David 0, Pinto 0, Murrell 0.
QUARTERS: 32-27, 55-42, 73-74, 103-91
