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Denzel Bowles lived up to expectations, debuting with a double-double performance in rallying B-MEG past Meralco, 96-93, for a rousing start in the PBA Commissioner's Cup Friday night at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
 

The 6-foot-10 Bowles pumped in 27 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in a performance he spiked with two highlight-reel plays that energized the Llamados and brought them back from an 11-point third-quarter deficit.

Down 58-47, Bowles teamed up with two-time league Most Valuable Player (MVP) James Yap, Josh Urbiztondo and Marc Pingris as the Llamados outscored the Bolts, 26-13, to take a 73-71 lead heading into the final quarter.
 

Bowles capped the run with a two-handed jam, off a perfect alley-hoop pass from Urbiztondo.

"Me and Josh had been trying that play in practice," said Bowles, who shot 10-of-17 from the floor, on the two dunks he made in his Philippine debut.

"Denzel was as good as advertised, he just ran out of steam in the second half," said B-MEG coach Tim Cone of his prized import.

 

James Yap added 18 while Urbiztondo, Peter June Simon and new man JC Intal all had 10 points each for the Llamados, who lost twice to the Powerade Tigers in the quarterfinals that ousted them in the season-opening Philippine Cup.

 

B-MEG joins opening-game winner Barako Bull on top of the standings in the short, single-elimination tournament.

It was a heartbreaking loss for Meralco, particularly for Mark  Cardona, who scored a game-high 32 points on 13-of-15 shooting from the field.

Jarrid Famous, a late replacement for the injured Jelani McCoy, had 24 points and tried to rally back the Bolts together with Cardona late in the game.

Cardona's two free throws cut down a 13-point B-MEG lead (89-76) as the Bolts threatened at 92-89 with 48 seconds to go.
 

But Bowles sealed the win for the Llamados with two charities, 96-92, 6.7 ticks left in the game. — JVP, GMA News

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