PBA: Cardona cans 30 as Meralco deals GlobalPort another loss

(Updated 7:30pm) Unwilling to match their three-game losing streak at the start of the conference, the Meralco Bolts improved to .500 on Friday after defeating the GlobalPort Batang Pier, 103-92, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. After dropping their last two games against San Mig Coffee Mixers and Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, the Bolts have now won four of their last six meetings, and forced themselves into a five-way logjam for the fourth best record, alongside the aforementioned SMC and BGSM teams, the Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters, and the Air21 Express (5-5). Meanwhile GlobalPort remains stuck at the bottom of the standings after losing their eighth straight game, 2-9. The Bolts entered the last two minutes with an eight-point lead, 92-84, but AJ Mandani fouled Eric Dawson for one more Meralco point from the line. Gary David swooped in for a quick lay-up at the 1:39 mark, but Cardona scored from the line off a Mark Yee foul, 94-86. David found himself being fouled while taking a three, where he hit all to cut the lead to five with 1:19 remaining. A quick basket from Josh Vanlandingham at the other end re-established a seven-point lead, while David missed his own attempt for the Batang Pier. Dawson then connected on another free throw, bringing the lead back up to eight with 59.4 seconds remaining. GlobalPort import Sylvester Morgan split from the line to cut the lead to seven, but Cardona dribbled around the Meralco half to drain the time. "Captain Hook" then hit two more for the line for his 28th point, giving the Bolts a 99-90 lead with 41.4 seconds remaining. Meralco completed another steal, before Cliff Hodge finished on the break. Mark Yee got a quick lay-up with 25 seconds to go, but Cardona hit two more from the line for the final score, 103-92. Mac Cardona was named player of the game for registering 30 points and four rebounds on 10-of-14 shooting. Eric Dawson had a game-high 37 points, 13 rebounds and five assists. Cliff Hodge added 11 points and eight boards, while reserve point guard Chris Timberlake chipped in 10 points, five rebounds and four assists. After a close first quarter, Cardona turned on the heat in the second period as he led the Bolts in a 15-8 run. GlobalPort threatened in stretches, but couldn't build a decisive run to trail by less than six points. Cardona scored 15 points in that crucial second quarter on 6-of-7 shooting, and made all three attempts from downtown. "People were expecting Mac to get a tongue-lashing [after averaging 2.5 points in our last two games] but he got the opposite. When a player's struggling, it's the best opportunity for a coach to come in and help out," said Meralco head coach Allan Gregorio. "I told him to just have fun, and he exploded in this game….He did a tremendous job offensively." Gregorio praised back-up point guard Timberlake for filling in for their starter, Chris Ross, after the latter had suffered a foot injury in their last game against Ginebra. "Timberlake played 36 minutes and did a wonderful job putting sanity in our offense," said Gregorio. "Ross was advised to sit for the next two weeks, but he's a competitor and knows how important this game is." The Bolts' good ball movement in the first quarter netted easy opportunities for Eric Dawson and Cliff Hodge, who scored their first 10 points. Meanwhile, GlobalPort looked disjointed on offense and relied on Sol Mercado and Gary David charities to stay afloat, 19-9. With under three minutes to play, Sylvester Morgan ended a six-minute field goal drought with consecutive makes in the paint. The import relieved Batang Pier's ailing offense and scored eight of their last 10 points, as they trailed by two after the first quarter, 21-19. In the second quarter, Meralco worked on getting open looks for Mac Cardona, and the swingman nailed three treys as he scored the Bolts' first 13 markers in the period. Mark Yee provided hustle points for Batang Pier while the starters sat, but they had to sue for time after a Chris Ross-Jay-R Reyes pick and roll capped a 15-8 run, 36-27. Willie Miller checked back in halfway through the period and scored GlobalPort's next five. Together with David, their dribble-penetration caused problems for a Meralco squad that couldn't get Dawson going from the block. At halftime, Batang Pier had cut the lead back to single digits, 48-41. Dawson made amends after the break, muscling for inside position to produce 12 straight for the Bolts, 60-47. But the big man had to check out just five minutes into the period after picking up his fourth personal foul. Meralco went back to Cardona, who scored back to back baskets to stabilize his team, but Dawson's absence allowed GlobalPort to threaten anew, as David nailed a pull-up jumper in transition, 69-62, with under three minutes on the clock. The shooting guard would hit another trey at the 1:40 mark to complete a 13-7 run at the end of the period, 71-65. Batang Pier outscored Meralco on the break in the third quarter, 9-2. Dawson returned at the start of the fourth period and quickly drew Japeth Aguilar's fourth and fifth personal fouls. The import scored eight of their first 10 points, 81-69. Mercado had to sit as well midway through the period, but Batang Pier started to connect on long jumpers. David was then fouled on a trey with four minutes remaining, and the shooting guard made all three from the line, 86-80. After the final buzzer, Dawson got into a verbal altercation with GlobalPort head coach Junel Baculi. Dawson later relented as players from both sides calmed him down. [Related: Former Rain or Shine import Jamelle Cornley in hot water for alleged assault on QC cop] "A lot of our imports are self-destructing," said Gregorio in reference to players' meltdowns on and off the court, "So don't be part of that statistic." Meralco took better care of the ball and committed only six turnovers while forcing GlobalPort into 13, resulting into an 18-6 margin in turnover points. None of Batang Pier's sharpshooters made more than one triple tonight. David, Miller and Mercado combined for only 2-of-11 from long range as their team went 2-of-17 overall (11.8 percent). In contrast, Meralco made 4-of-14 from three-point distance (28.6 percent), including 3-of-3 by Cardona. Gary David led GlobalPort with 29 points, including 14-of-15 from the free throw stripe. Sylvester Morgan added 22 points and 13 boards, while Sol Mercado tallied 11 points and four assists. Mark Yee notched 10 points. - RAF, GMA News