PBA: David, Dillinger do it all as Bolts burn Aces

The Meralco Bolts dominated the Alaska Aces, 74-65, in the PLDT MyDSL 2014 PBA Philippine Cup, Friday, at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.

 

Jared Dillinger was named Best Player of the Game with 10 points, seven rebounds, seven assists, and two crucial blocks in the fourth quarter that smothered Alaska's comeback momentum.

 

Gary David led all scorers with 24 points, seven rebounds and five assists. Cliff Hodge also notched 10 points with three blocks.

 

"I told them to be ready for war. It's not gonna be easy against Alaska, they're also fighting for survival against us," said Bolts head coach Ryan Gregorio.

 

Gregorio credited his team's defense in tonight's win:

"We like this win because of the way we defended. Sonny Thoss bullied us in their first game and [Dondon] Hontiveros scorched us. I told them we couldn't allow them to score in the high-60s," he said.

 

The Bolts avenged a loss to the Aces earlier in the elimination round, 91-82.

 

Gregorio also had some words for Calvin Abueva, who dealt Dillinger a bloody nose early in the fourth quarter with his antics.

"We don't like flopping in the league; it's hard enough for the referees to call legitimate calls and non-calls," said Gregorio.

 

Meralco, 5-7, tied Barako Bull at fifth place in the standings. Alaska absorbed its second straight loss, fourth over the last six games. The Aces dropped to ninth place with a 4-8 card.

 

Meralco started the game flat and fell in an 11-3 hole as Sonny Thoss exploited their weak interior defense. But the Bolts stiffened their resistance and responded in kind, scoring 10 points in the paint to complement a pair of Sunday Salvacion three-pointers during a 21-6 counterpunch. After the first period, Meralco held a 24-17 lead.

 

Alaska found two wide-open looks at the rim in the second quarter, as Calvin Abueva scored off a turnover and Gabby Espinas drew an and-one, 24-22. The burst was short-lived though, as the Aces missed several shots underneath soon after. On the other end, little-used Paul Artadi pushed the pace and set up Reynel Hugnatan inside. The duo scored the first seven points in a 14-4 surge, 38-26, with three minutes to play.

 

In the last two minutes, the Aces hung tough, with Gabby Espinas' charities capping a 6-2 spurt to stay within single digits at halftime, 40-32.

 

The Aces returned after the break with a zone defense, which helped them knot the game, 40-40, off splits from the line by Dondon Hontiveros. But it would be as close as Alaska would get, as Meralco uncorked a 25-11 blitz. The Bolts set an uptempo game for Cliff Hodge to fill in the lanes, while Gary David knocked down huge buckets, to lead 65-51 entering the final period.

Dillinger-Abueva confrontation

 

Jared Dillinger and Abueva were awarded double technicals early in the fourth quarter after a tense scuffle. Abueva blocked Dillinger's drive and attempted to swat his face too as they both fell into the stands. A furious Dillinger, bleeding from the nose, got up and pinned Abueva down on the court's railings before they were separated by officials and players alike.

 

Alaska made one last run, pushing the ball off stops to get things going. The Aces swung the ball to Aldrech Ramos in transition, capping a 13-7 swing, but Dillinger cut their momentum on defense with chase-down blocks on Abueva and Cyrus Baguio on back-to-back possessions, 71-64, with under three minutes to play. The wind was knocked out of the Aces, as David drained a three-pointer with a minute and change left, 74-63, to seal the deal.

 

Meralco converted 30-of-69 (43.5 percent) attempts from the floor, while limiting Alaska to a dreadful 26-of-78 (33.3 percent) clip. Alaska led in second-chance points (13-0) and turnover points (23-14).

 

A special tribute was held during the halftime break to commemorate the retirement of Joaqui Trillo as the Alaska Aces' team governor.

 

JVee Casio scored 15 points and six rebounds. Sonny Thoss tallied 14 points and 12 rebounds, while Gabby Espinas had 13 points and seven boards. - RAF, GMA News