MANILA – Crispin John Cansino turned clutch when it mattered most, drilling crucial baskets and free throws down the stretch as the Meralco Bolts edged the previously unbeaten Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots, 78-76, in a nail-biting PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup showdown Sunday night at the Ynares Center in Montalban, Rizal.
With Meralco trailing 71-72 after Magnolia’s Zavier Lucero hit back-to-back triples, Cansino regained control for the Bolts with a tough bank shot before calmly sinking two free throws for a 75-72 lead. He then sealed the victory with another pair of charities as Meralco fended off the Hotshots’ desperate rally.
Cansino finished with a game-high 23 points on top of six rebounds and four blocks, anchoring Meralco’s third straight win for a 3-2 card.
Aaron Black added 17 markers, while Kier John Quinto chipped in 11 points including the final free throw that set the two-point margin with eight seconds left.
The Hotshots had a chance to steal the game, but Jerom Lastimosa’s three-point attempt at the buzzer missed, handing Magnolia (2-1) its first loss of the conference. Lastimosa led his team with 22 points, followed by Lucero’s 14 and the duo of Andy Mark Barroca and Russell Escoto with 11 apiece.
Meanwhile, defending champions San Miguel Beermen (1-2) finally broke into the win column after blasting the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters (1-1), 111-93.
Jaymar Perez spearheaded the Beermen with 23 points, including two triples and a four-pointer, alongside six rebounds, four assists, and two steals.
Marcio Lassiter scored 18, June Mar Fajardo registered a 17-point, 14-rebound double-double, and Juan Miguel Tiongson added 11.
Adrian Nocum led the Painters with 17 points, followed by Gian Mamuyac and Jhonard Clarito with 16 each, while Stanley Pringle debuted for Rain or Shine with 11 markers./PN
BOX SCORE:
MERALCO 78 – Cansino 23, Black 17, Quinto 11, Bates 7, Hodge 7, Newsome 6, Banchero 3, Almazan 2, Pascual 2, Maliksi 0.
MAGNOLIA 76 – Lastimosa 22, Lucero 14, Barroca 11, Escoto 11, Gomez de Liaño 5, Laput 4, Sangalang 4, Dela Rosa 3, Lee 2, Alfaro 0, Dionisio 0.
Quarterscores: 20-7, 32-25, 53-51, 78-76.
