Cortez helps Meralco clinch q'finals berth

MANILA, Philippines - Mike Cortez punished his former team Air21 with a crucial binge in the third quarter, keying a decisive Meralco breakaway en route to a 100-91 win and an outright passage into the quarterfinals of the PBA Governors Cup at the Cuneta Astrodome Sunday night.

Cortez played big in his second game as a Bolt, churning out 17 points, six assists, two rebounds and one steal to help Meralco secure the third slot in the post-elims play of the season-ending tourney.

Meralco also enhanced its bid for a twice-to-beat bonus in the quarterfinals with a 5-3 win-loss slate while Air21 practically moved on the brink of elimination with a 2-6 card.

“That’s one important win as we were derailed the last time out,” said Meralco coach Ryan Gregorio.

“We’re having this reputation as a great defensive team but we have to combine that with offense. With Mike (Cortez) around, we’ve got a stable halfcourt game that could help our concern on the offensive end,” Gregorio also said.

Gregorio maximized his use of Cortez in this particular game against his former team, sacrificing the minutes of Chris Ross.

“There’s nothing wrong with Ross. That’s a decision that I thought would fast track Mike Cortez. I was surprised how he was able to adjust with us quickly,” said Gregorio.

The former La Salle star went 0-of-4 from the field, failing to score a basket in his Meralco debut versus Globalport Wednesday.

Cortez, Mario West and Cliff Hodge presided over Meralco’s mammoth run in the third quarter that had the team seizing control, 77-66, and going on to take the win that tied them with the San Mig Coffee Mixers at second place behind the Petron Blaze Boosters.

“At the end of our nine games in the elims, hopefully we can end up one of the Top Four,” said Gregorio whose troops shoot for a Top Four finish and the twice-to-beat incentive that goes with it in tangling with San Mig Coffee Mixers Friday at the Big Dome.

The Express, meanwhile, close their elims stint versus the Alaska Milk Aces Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.

Air21 would already be out of contention in the quarters race if Talk n Text and Barangay Ginebra win their matches tomorrow and Friday, respectively.

West and Hodge put in 29 and 24 points, respectively, for the Bolts who bounced back from a loss to the Globalport Batang Pier the last time out, notching their fourth win in their last five games.

The Bolts made a good defensive effort particularly on KG Canaleta, holding him down to 15 after exploding for 30 in a 106-102 victory over Talk n Text Friday.