Undermanned Meralco shines

MANILA, Philippines —  Meralco generated sufficient power to overcome the absence of ace playmaker Chris Newsome and spring back to life in the PBA Governors’ Cup.

Behind a concerted effort led by Allen Durham and Bong Quinto, the Bolts wheeled back to the win column with a 107-91 dispatching of skidding Terrafirma last night at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Durham banged in 23 points to go with 12 rebounds in a makeup performance from his eight-point, 10-board outing six days before in Meralco’s 73-93 blowout loss to TNT.

The three-time Best Import’s step-it-up mentality was shared by Quinto and the rest of the locals left to man the fort with Newsome sitting it out due to ankle injury from last game and joining Aaron Black (meniscus) and Raymond Almazan (muscle spasm) in sick bay.

Quinto, who himself had to shrug off a left knee contusion he sustained from a slip in the fourth, delivered a Player of the Game-earning showing of 22 spiked by a 4-of-5 shooting from three-point territory.

Chris Banchero produced a par-for-the-course 17 markers as the Bolts got added contributions from rookie CJ Cansino, who turned in a breakout game of 16 including four triples, and veteran Allein Maliksi, who rifled in 12 after being sidelined by groin issues.

The Bolts’ hard work amid an assortment of injuries to players and even sickness to active consultant Nenad Vucenic paid off as they improved to 2-1.

“Maraming injuries which normally happens when you’re practicing hard,” said Meralco coach Luigi Trillo. “Next man up lang. Anjo (Caram) and Jolo (Mendoza) did a good job helping CB (Banchero) and CJ helping Bong and Allein.”

“Kahit last conference, talagang ready lang kami. Kung may injured, lahat kami ready kaya nakaka-execute,” offered Quinto, who shot 11 in the fourth to extinguish the threat of the Dyip, when the latter got to within six after trailing by double digits.

The Bolts made the long-distance shot as a major weapon, making 15-of-27 attempts from deep, while dominating the boards, 51-31, and spreading the offense with 24 dimes.

“I like our 24 assists, which means the ball is moving and we also did well rebounding. I think these are certain things na hinahanap namin,” said Trillo.

The Dyip remained winless in three matches since tweaking their roster and welcoming Stanley Pringle and Christian Standhardinger after that big trade with Ginebra.

Pringle paced the Terrafirma scorers with 19 plus six assists and five rebounds as import Antonio Hester finished with 18-8 while freshman Paolo Hernandez broke out with 15 markers.

Later, Rain or Shine grabbed pole position in Group B after going 3-0 at the expense of NLEX (2-1), 124-105.

The Road Warriors went on a tear in the last three quarters to turn the tables around after falling to an early 21-point hole and stay as the conference’s only unbeaten team.