Onuaku lifts Meralco over Columbian

MANILA, Philippines – Meralco flipped their offensive switch in the second half to ground the Columbian Dyip, 116-103, in the first game of Wednesday's PBA Commissioner's Cup hostilities at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Neck-and-neck in the first two periods, the Bolts hit a scoring groove midway the third. Arinze Onuaku provided the anchorage in the shaded area, scoring eight of his total 30 points in that frame.

The former Best Import awardee maintained that lethal form going into the payoff period. He finsihed as Meralco's leading scorer.

"First, I'd like to tip my hat off to Arinze.He's been sick. He's been in the hospital for the last three days. And he hasn't practied. He came basically from the hospital to the game.," Bolts head coach Norman Black said.

Onuaku rounded out his performance with 19 points, four blocks and three steals after battling with an upset stomach.

Chris Newsome also came through for the conference-debuting Bolts, registering 18 points to go with his seven boards and seven assists. Nico Salva, KG Canaleta and Jared Dillinger each contributed double-digit performances.

"Our defense [was] lacking, but in the second half, we did a much better job at it." the mentor offered.

"The other guys also played well. KG, JD and the other guys," Black added. "Great effort, great start for us coming from the all-Filipino (conference). Hopefully, we could sustain in the rest of the conference."

The Dyip drew commendable first half performances from import Charles Aiken, Carlo Lastimosa and Rashawn McCarthy but all of them barely put a dent on the Bolts' defense in the second half. 

Columbian actually led by as many as 10, capitalizing on their production off transition, as trying to prove that their opening-day win over Blackwater was no fluke. 

But they got themselves buried in a 14-point rut after being unable to back Jerramy King in his herculean effort in the final frame.

The Scores:

MERALCO (116): Onuaku 30, Newsome 18, Salva 13, Canaleta 12, Dillinger 11, Hodge 8, Amer 7, Hugnatan 7, Sedurifa 4, Caram 4, Tolomia 2, Ballesteros 0

COLUMBIAN (103): Aiken 21, Lastimosa 16, McCarthy 16, Camson 15, Celda 14, King 12, Tubid 4, Cahilig 2, Khobuntin 2, Corpuz 1, Ababou 0, Escoto 0, Sara 0

Quarter scores: 25-31, 56-57, 85-79, 116-103