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[av_heading heading=’Bolts survives Phoenix; G’Port escapes TNT’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=’30’ subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’18’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
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February 15, 2018
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MANILA – Meralco Bolts squandered a double-digit advantage before hanging on for a 92-90 win over Phoenix Fuel Masters in the PBA Philippine Cup yesterday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Garvo Lanete led Meralco (3-6) with 24 points, including four 3-point conversions, while Clifford Hodge added 17 markers for Bolts to stay alive in the playoffs race.
In the other game, GlobalPort Batang Pier overcame the huge second-half run by TNT KaTropa to escape with a 99-84 victory.
After losing its 16-point first half advantage, Bolts found itself trailing at the onset of the fourth quarter before unloading a run from Anjo Caram, Nico Salva and Lanete to tie the count at 81-all.
Bolts then surged 92-85 with conversions from Chris Newsome and Lanete but Fuel Masters countered with a run to come to within 90-92. Phoenix had a chance to snatch the victory but Negrense Jeff Chan misfired in his 3-point attempt.
“I always tell my players, ‘When you lose a game, you got two choices: you can sulk, or go back to the drawing board and keep working,’” said Bolts head coach Norman Black. “We chose the latter.”
William Wilson finished with conference-high 24 points while Matthew Wright and Rafael Jazul added 16 and 13 points, respectively, for Fuel Masters (4-5).
In the second game, Stanley Pringle, Juan Nicholas Elorde and Jeric Teng scored for Batang Pier (4-4) to take a 34-12 lead, which grew to its largest 67-37 on back-to-back conversions by Kelly Nabong.
KaTropa made its last stand and managed to trim the deficit 84-94 after a triple by Jayson Castro but free throw hits by Jonathan Grey and Elorde sealed the win for Batang Pier.
Elorde finished with career-high 17 points along with seven rebounds and seven assists while Pringle chipped in double-double 16 points and 10 rebounds for GlobalPort./PN
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