Import, rookie shine as Meralco spills Alaska

MANILA, Philippines -- Bryan Butch outperformed reigning Best Import Rob Dozier and rookie guard Anjo Caram seized the moment in playing the spot of injured teammates as Meralco pulled the rug from under titleholder Alaska Milk, 85-76, in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Wednesday night.

Butch drained six triples and finished with game highs of 27 points, 17 rebounds, two steals and two blocks while Caram played well in setting the plays as the Bolts sprang back from a 76-94 blowout by the San Miguel Beermen in their tournament debut.

Reynel Hugnatan, Gary David and Clifford Hodge contributed double-digit outputs to help the Bolts score some measure of revenge against the team that knocked them out in a do-or-die battle for the last playoff spot in the last Philippine Cup.

Meralco tied Air21, Barako Bull and Barangay Ginebra at 1-1 while Alaska fell to 1-2.

“We did a good job competing today despite our obvious lack of arsenal because of injured players. We’re able to do the job because of defense,” said Meralco coach Ryan Gregorio.

“We found a way to beat the defending champs and that’s a welcome development after losing badly against San Miguel Beer,” Gregorio also said.

The sterling efforts put up by Butch and Caram were not lost on the Meralco bench chieftain.

“(Outside shooting) is really his strength. He’s a floor spacer, allowing the other guys to penetrate because of better spacing inside,” said Gregorio of their 6-foot-10 import with a soft shooting touch.

Caram, the lone rookie signed up by Meralco in the season, stepped up in the absence of Mike Cortez and Jared Dillinger.

“Nice sight for a player who’s supposed to be sitting farthest on the bench. He seized the day and did that magnificently,” said Gregorio.

The former San Beda stalwart delivered some clutch plays and wound up with seven points, three rebounds and three assists in what’s easily his best game in the pros.

Butch canned in a charity, David scored on a drive then Caram buried a trey as Meralco settled the outcome of the game at 84-72 inside the last two minutes.

Pounding the so-so games of Dozier, Sonny Thoss and Calvin Abueva, the Bolts dominated the Aces almost throughout the game marred by four technical infractions.

Both coaches Gregorio and Luigi Trillo were called a “T” in the first half for disrespectfully addressing game officials.

At the start of the third, Dozier was whistled a flagrant foul penalty one for hammering Reynel Hugnatan in the head. A fourth technical infraction came from Vic Manuel who hit Butch with 1:27 left in the third.

Caram nailed a jumper as Meralco led by 10, 22-12, at the start of the second quarter before settling for a 37-33 margin at the turn.

The Aces got off to a flat start but rallied to within one, 33-34, late in the opening half behind the efforts of Cyrus Baguio and Jvee Casio.

Baguio went 2-of-2 from the three-point area while Casio provided hustle plays in Alaska’s second-quarter chase.