Bolts knock Pacquiao, Sorento out of PBA playoff contention

Games Friday (Smart Araneta Coliseum)

4:15 p.m. – Rain or Shine vs Alaska

7 p.m. – San Miguel vs Talk n Text

MANILA, Philippines – Meralco cut short Manny Pacquiao’s initial foray in pro basketball as the Bolts survived a second-half breakdown and eventually eased out Kia Motors, 99-93, in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Wednesday night.

Cliff Hodge rifled in 10 of his 17 points in the fourth quarter and Mark Macapagal fired all of his 10 markers in the last six minutes of play as Meralco recovered after blowing away a 22-point bulge to clinch a fifth win against the same number of losses

With the crucial victory, the Bolts stayed in the fight for the Top Six and at the same time gave idle NLEX (3-7) a free ride into the quarterfinals.

Pacquiao and the Sorento bowed out of the race for the next phase of the all-Filipino tourney as they reeled with a ninth straight loss after a triumphant season debut against fellow PBA newcomer Blackwater.

Kia and NLEX play a non-bearing game Sunday also at the Big Dome. Going to that game, Pacquiao holds a 1-2 record as the Sorento playing coach.

The boxing icon saw action for the second time last night, getting two rebounds against two missed 3-pointers, one turnover and one foul in six minutes and a half.

Kia was trailing by 17 at 6-23 before Pacquiao decided he had played enough.

The Sorento fell behind by as many as 22, 41-63, later on before Reil Cervantes, Eliud Poligrates, Hyram Bagatsing, Kyle Pascual and Hans Thiele got the team going and storming ahead at 72-71.

They sustained a good ride until a contested call by the refs stopped their momentum early in the fourth.

“They went up by three (81-78). And at that point, there’s the possibility we could lose,” said Meralco coach Norman Black of the scare put up by Kia.

“The game was a story of two halves. In the first half, we played very well. In the second half, we forgot to play. Maybe, until the last six minutes,” Black also said.

Largely behind Macapagal and Hodge, the Bolts regained momentum on a 14-2 attack that made it 92-83 for Meralco.

“At one point, I told the players either we let this go, as we’d really messed it up, or we compose ourselves and win the game. They responded well although it’s still a struggle in the stretch,” said Black.

“At this point, our season is a roller coaster ride to say the least. But I take the win and I’m happy with it,” Black also said.

Macapagal drained two treys and two free throws to help spark their decisive endgame run.

Earlier, Jared Dillinger, John Wilson and Gary David provided the firepower as the Bolts dominated the first half. Dillinger led all scorers with 25 points while Wilson and David, just back from a bout with flu, combined for 21.

The Bolts carved out the important win minus injured players Reynel Hugnatan, Simon Atkins and Anjo Caram.