Meralco enters quarterfinals

MANILA, Philippines — Meralco wasn’t to be left behind in a bottleneck race to the Top 2 and the prized twice-to-beat incentives in the quarterfinals.

The Bolts unleashed a strong finishing kick to frustrate San Miguel, 100-93, and formally clinch a quarterfinals slot while beefing up its bonus goal in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup out-of-town bill witnessed by a good crowd yesterday at the Candon City Arena in Ilocos Sur.

Meralco relinquished a big lead in the second half but recovered in time behind the heroics of super import Akil Mitchell, Chris Newsome and Chris Banchero to join NorthPort, Eastern and Converge on to the quarterfinals with similar 7-3 slates.

All four teams are tied at second spot just behind pace-setting TNT (6-2) with the Bolts maintaining a prime position to break free from the logjam after slaying the giant in SMB entering its final two games against Ginebra and Magnolia.

Mitchell dropped 26 points, 16 rebounds and five assists while Newsome and Banchero added 20 and 19 points, respectively, for the Bolts, who had a 70-59 lead in the third quarter but needed a strong final stand.

The troika anchored Meralco’s 10-0 rally capped by Mitchell’s and-one in the final five minutes to flip an 86-89 deficit to a sudden 96-89 upperhand on its way to third straight win after previously beating NLEX, 105-91, and NorthPort, 111-94.

June Mar Fajardo (20) and CJ Perez (16) paced the way as new import Malik Pope bled for just 14 points in his PBA debut after replacing Jabari Narcis for SMB, which slid to 4-5 but remained at No. 8.

Quarterfinals-bound Converge, meanwhile, steps up its drive for a Top 2 finish against lowly Blackwater while Phoenix and NLEX fight for survival nearing the homestretch of the elims today at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo.

Game time is at 5 p.m. with the FiberXers looking to clear their path toward the Top 2 and a twice-to-beat quarterfinals incentive.