Meralco tightens grip on second spot, crushes struggling Terrafirma

The Meralco Bolts will stay at the second spot of the 2021 PBA Philippine Cup team standings after turning back Terrafirma, 95-83, on Thursday in Bacolor, Pampanga.

The Bolts improved to a 6-2 card behind a solid performance from Anjo Caram, who sparked off the bench with 13 points on 5-for-6 shooting from the field and five assists. Bong Quinto was also crucial after finishing with 17 markers, eight boards, and three dimes.

Meanwhile, the Dyip dropped to 3-7. Aldrech Ramos and Joseph Gabayni led the team with 15 and 14 points respectively.

"My job with this team is just to be ready whenever coach [Norman Black] calls me to play and as a collective unit, we talked about winning together and helping each other on the court," Caram said in the post-game interview.

"That worked for us very well in this game," he added.

After leading for the most part of the second half, the Bolts momentarily lost their advantage early in the third canto after Terrafirma's Bonbon Batiller completed his charities, 53-51.

They, however, found ways to somehow take back the lead after Mac Belo, Allein Maliksi, and Alvin Pasaol converted four triples to end the quarter with a three-point spread for Meralco, 73-70.

Caram and veteran big man Reynel Hugnatan then came in clutch during the fourth period, scoring 14 of Bolts' 22 points. Raymond Almazan also chipped in four-straight points in that frame.

"We always study the other team and prepare for their offense and their defense," said Black, who's very well aware that Terrafirma can pull off big wins this season.

"We're missing two key players because of the health protocols in the PBA but we just had to play together and play for one another. That was very important tonight."

Meralco played without key players in Chris Newsome and Cliff Hodge, who are both placed under health and safety protocols set forth by the league. Black, however, expects both his wards to come back once they wrapped up this week's schedule against Blackwater on Saturday, September 18.

"I'm pretty sure that they won't be back in our next game because our game is on Saturday but I'm counting on them to be back by the next time we play after that," Black said.

The scores:

Meralco (95) - Quinto 17, Caram 13, Maliksi 12, Almazan 11, Hugnatan 10, Pasaol 10, Belo 9, Jackson 5, Pinto 4, Baclao 2, Jamito 2, Black 0

Terrafirma (83) - Ramos 15, Gabayni 14, Celda 10, Tiongson 10, Batiller 9, Calvo 9, Camson 6, Ganuelas-Rosser 4, Mccarthy 4, Adams 2

Quarter scores: 25-19, 50-49, 73-70, 95-83

—MGP, GMA News