PBA Commissioner's Cup: Meralco edges Powerade to clinch quarterfinals berth

Mark Cardona jazzed up the Meralco offense as the Bolts escaped with a 102-98 win over the Powerade Tigers in their playoff match Friday night to clinch a quarterfinals berth in the PBA Commissioner's Cup at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.

A Cardona three-pointer, his 24th point in the game, pushed the Bolts into safer grounds after the Tigers trimmed what was once a double-digit lead to two, 90-88, with still over two minutes left in the final quarter. Rookie Marcio Lassiter drained a corner three-pointer as Powerade threatened again at 100-98. But that proved to be the Tigers' final stand as the Bolts hang on to complete the win. The win pushed Meralco to a quarterfinals date with B-MEG. The best-of-three series starts Sunday at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum. Powerade, after a runner-up finish to the Tropang Texters in the season-opening Philippine Cup, will be spending an early summer vacation along with Petron, Air21 and Rain or Shine. Meralco dictated the tempo of the entire match and enjoyed a 75-65 spread late in the third quarter before pulling out all the stops in the final quarter to move into the next round. Cardona shot 11-of-24 from the field, grabbed seven rebounds and issued five assists to support import Earl Barron's 33-point and 18-rebound performance. Veteran big man Asi Taulava regained his old strength to finish with 16 points and nine rebounds while Chris Ross tallied 12 markers, six rebounds and seven assists. Dwayne Jones had a monster game with 20 points and 24 rebounds, while Lassiter and Gary David added 20 markers each Top rookie pick Jvee Casio contributed 14 points, four rebounds and seven assists while Sean Anthony had 13 markers, four rebounds and three assists. — JVP, GMA News Scores: Meralco 102—Barron 33, Cardona 24, Taulava 16, Ross 12, Mercado 9, Hugnatan 4, Borboran 2, Macapagal 2, Timberlake 0. Powerade 98—Jones 20, Lassiter 20, David 20, Casio 14, Anthony 13, Kramer 5, Lingganay 4, Calimag 2, Vanlandingham 0, Allera 0, Cruz 0. Quarter scores: 23-16, 45-43, 75-66, 102-98.