MERALCO leaned on its experience when it mattered most to outlast Phoenix Super LPG, 116-107, in triple overtime Friday at the PhilSports Arena and send their PBA Commissioner's Cup quarterfinals duel into a deciding game.
Bong Quinto shook off his early struggles by scoring 14 of his 19 points in the extensions, including seven in the third one that saw the Bolts get off to a 10-0 start for a 113-103 lead that effectively took the fight out of the Fuel Masters.
As a result, fifth-ranked Meralco neutralized No. 4 Phoenix's twice-to-beat advantage and sent the matchup into a decider on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Winning coach Luigi Trillo refused to be caught up in the wild celebrations of his team and its supporters following the culmination of their fightback from 15 points down in regulation.
"Wala pa kaming ginagawa. It's just one game," said Trillo after only the 14th triple OT game in PBA history with the last coming in the knockout match won by NorthPort over NLEX in the 2019 Governors Cup in Bacoor.
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Cliff Hodge led Meralco with 20 points and 10 rebounds before leaving the game due to a right ankle sprain in the last 2:25 of the first OT. It was his first 20-10 game since notching 25-13 in the 2016 Philippine Cup.
Quinto finished with 19 points while also canning a a tough lay-up that forged thesecond extra period.
Shonn Miller made 18 points and 20 rebounds before fouling out late in the game while Allein Maliksi tallied 18 markers like Aaron Black.
Chris Newsome produced 16 points highlighted by a clutch triple he sank to beat the buzzer in regulation and send the match into the first OT.
Johnathan Williams led Phoenix with 24 points and 24 rebounds on top of six assists after playing a total 62:22 out of the 63-minute game, in the process becoming only the fourth import to have seen more than 60 minutes of action in a game.
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Despite the onset of cramps late in regulation, Jason Perkins still finished the game and wound up with 20 points, the same output submitted by Tyler Tio.
The Fuel Masters actually had the chance to win it outright in the second OT following Quinto's basket, but Williams muffed two free throws that made him 9-for-19 from the stripes for the game. (NC)
The Scores:
MERALCO 116 - Hodge 20, Quinto 19, Miller 18, Black 18, Maliksi 16, Newsome 14, Banchero 5, Almazan 2, Pascual 0, Rios 0, Caram 0.
PHOENIX 107 - Williams 24, Perkins 20, Tio 20, Tuffin 16, Jazul 13, Alejandro 6, Mocon 6, Manganti 2, Muyang 0, Soyud 0, Garcia 0, Rivero 0.
QUARTERS: 13-21, 39-47, 53-62, 84-84, 95-95, 103-103, 116-107
