PBA: Meralco routs Blackwater to bolster twice-to-beat bid

Meralco rolled past Blackwater with a 108-93 win to strengthen its playoff bonus bid in the PBA Season 50 Commissioner's Cup on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. 

The Bolts were in the driver's seat from start to finish to record their second straight lopsided victory after blowing out rival Barangay Ginebra last Friday, 112-91, behind Marvin Jones, CJ Cansino, and Chris Newsome. 

The latest win also assured Meralco a quarterfinals spot, marking the team's eighth straight conference playoffs appearance.

"We know how important it is to get the Top Four. We've been on the outside for hte last few conference so to get into the Top Four would be huge boost for our team," veteran Chris Banchero said. 

"But we know that just because we have that, we can't let our guard down.

Jones led the show anew by pouring in a double-double of 26 points and 12 rebounds while Banchero posted 14 markers and eight assists off the bench as the Bolts captured their second win in a row after losing two in a row against NLEX and San Miguel. 

They improved to 7-3 to momentarily tie Ginebra, which will see action today against Rain or Shine. The Bossing, meanwhile, dropped to 2-9 with only a game left in their campaign. 

Jones and Banchero didn't last support with Canisno and Bong Quinto contributing 12 points apiece while Newsome tallied 10 markers. 

Scores:

Meralco 108 – Jones 26, Banchero 14, Cansino 12, Quinto 12, Black 11, Newsome 10, Brickman 6, Hodge 6, Mocon 5, Bates 2, Maliksi 2, Pascual 1, Comia 1, Rios 0, Magbuhos 0.

Blackwater 93 – Upshaw III 31, barefield 16, Zamar 11, Mallilin 9, Una 9, Austria 7, Tratrer 5, Murrell 2, Jopia 2, Altamirano 1, David 0, Andrade 0, Guinto 0.

Quarters: 35-25, 61-51, 87-67, 108-93.

—JKC, GMA News