Meralco downs San Miguel for second straight win in PBA On Tour

The Meralco Bolts took down San Miguel, 92-89, to claim their second straight win in the PBA On Tour on Saturday in Tiaong, Quezon.

The Beermen were leading by just one point, 84-83, with less than five minutes remaining in the final frame before the Bolts made a 7-0 run capped by Allein Maliksi's triple to take a 90-84 lead with 2:44 left.

Rodney Brondial answered with a basket to cut their deficit, but Raymond Almazan made a layup at the 1:12 mark to seal the win for the Bolts despite Jericho Cruz' shot and split late in the game.

Maliksi registered 21 points while Almazan posted 14 points and 14 rebounds. Bong Quinto scored 19 while Anjo Caram had 11 points and seven assists to improve Meralco's standings to 3-1.

Cruz tallied 19 markers while Marvin Lee and Allyn Bulanadi chipped in 18 points apiece. Brondial was a rebound shy of a double-double with 14 points and nine boards, while Mo Tautuaa had a statline of 12 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists as SMB slid to 2-3.

PBA On Tour action will return on Sunday with Rain or Shine going against Terrafirma at 5 pm and rivals Magnolia and Barangay Ginebra facing each other at 7:30 pm at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.

The scores:

Meralco 92 – Maliksi 21, Quinto 19, Almazan 14, Caram 11, Pascual 8, Pasaol 5, Rios 4, Jose 3, Johnson 3, Hodge 2, Torres 2.

SMB 89 – Lee 18, Bualandi 18, Cruz 18, Brondial 14, Tautuaa 12, Saldua 6, Lazarte 2, Faundo 0, Baclao 0.

Quarters: 25-24, 47-46, 69-73, 92-89.

—Justin Kenneth Carandang/JMB, GMA Integrated News