PBA: B-MEG and Alaska spoil Meralco, Barako semifinals march 

(Updated 11:23 p.m.) B-MEG and Alaska lived to fight another day as the Llamados and Aces, with their backs against the wall, avoided an early Lenten break to force similar do-or-die encounters in their respective best-of-three quarterfinals showdown in the PBA Commissioner's Cup. Marc Pingris, held to only four points in B-MEG's loss the last time out, came alive at the right time to help the Llamados complete a 95-85 victory over the Meralco Bolts while Alaska scored a 99-92 triumph against Barako Bull. The 6-foot-5 versatile big man teamed up with import Denzel Bowles as the Llamados pushed the short series to a thrilling Sunday encounter. Pingris scattered 21 points on 7-of-8 field goal shooting and 7-of-9 clip from the free throw line. Pingris, who also grabbed nine rebounds, had a perfect first half with 5-of-5 shooting for 10 points as B-MEG enjoyed a huge 52-29 edge. "(Marc) Pingris was awesome and we found a role for him. He played limited minutes in Game One and we felt going small. He just has great character to play that hard and to play that well. He was a big presence in all facets of the game," said B-MEG coach Tim Cone. The Llamados—who suffered a 103-81 thrashing in the series opener—came firing early on. B-MEG, with the Bolts missing chief gunner Mark Cardona, controlled the entire first half where they built a double-digit spread. Cardona, Meralco's top local scorer with 20.7 points per game average, got thrown out early in the first quarter. He was called for second motion after he hit Bowles in the head with still 10 minutes and 57 seconds to go in the opening period. The former La Salle Green Archer and the Llamados' Josh Urbiztondo were earlier whistled a double technical foul. PBA Commissioner Chito Salud will meet Cardona on Saturday and will decide on sanctions after hearing the side of the gutsy shooting guard. B-MEG's lead once stood at 40-14 midway in the second period but Meralco, behind the joint efforts of import Earl Barron and Sol Mercado, slowly climbed out of that deep hole in the third. The Bolts erupted for 39 points in the third period to trim the Llamados' lead to single digits, 76-68, entering the final canto. B-MEG, however, had an answer in every Meralco basket to again pull away, 91-80, with 2:17 left to play. Chris Ross' steal and strong finish at the other end moved Meralco within 91-85 but B-MEG withstood the Bolts' late rally to complete the win. Bowles finished with 20 points and 11 rebounds before fouling out with still two minutes left in the game. Peter June Simon, Urbiztondo and Joe Devance added 15, 13 and 10 markers each. Barron's 39-point and 18-rebound performance led the Bolts' losing cause while Mercado chipped in 18. Alaska will also be playing a Game Three on Sunday after the Aces' backcourt duo of LA Tenorio and Cyrus Baguio led them to a 99-92 victory. Tenorio and Baguio combined for 42 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists while getting ample scoring support from Sonny Thoss, Marnel Baracael and reinforcement Adam Parada. The winner of the Llamados-Bolts series will face Ginebra in the semis while defending champion Talk 'N Text takes on the triumphant team in the Alaska-Barako contest. Both best-of-five Final Four matches will start on April 11. — JVP, GMA News Scores: Quarter scores:  28-34, 48-48, 77-63, 99-92.