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PBA: Meralco Bolts zap trade partners Air21 Express
Mike Cortez (R) battles former teammate Bonbon Custodio. Jeff Venancio
(Updated 6:32pm) The Mike Cortez-reinforced Meralco Bolts seemingly got the better of their recent trade with the Asi Taulava-backed Air21 Express, winning 100-91 on Sunday at the Cuneta Astrdome, in the 2013 PBA Governors Cup.
The Bolts forced a tie between them and the San Mig Coffee Mixers for second place with identical 5-3 win-loss cards. The two teams will face each other next and the winner will be guaranteed a twice-to-beat advantage for the quarterfinals. Placing second is important for both teams as it also means they won’t have to face the rampaging Petron Blaze Boosters until the Governors’ Cup Finals.
Air21 on the other hand fell to the cellar anew with a 2-6 card.
Just this month, the two sides participated in a deal that sent the playing rights of Asi Taulava and forward Mark Borboran to Air21 in exchange for Meralco adding point guard Mike Cortez and big man JR Sena.
The Express got within 10, 95-85, with 2:04 left, as Air21 kept going down low to Taulava, resulting in Reynel Huganatan and JR Reyes fouling out. Mario West though scored to make it a 12-point affair, 1:46 left.
Persistent play by Air21 halved their deficit, 97-91, as Joseph Yeo nailed a drive with 28.6 seconds left. A quick foul sent Cliff Hodge to the line where he earned a split, but import Zach Graham turned the ball away with 24 seconds left, allowing Meralco to emerge triumphant.
Cliff Hodge did most of the damage for the Bolts as he scored a career-high 24 points and added 13 rebounds in the game. Meralco import Mario West led all scorers with 29 markers. Mike Cortez, in his second game with his new team, put together a line of 17 points, six assists and two steals.
The Meralco Bolts came out of the games running as they built a 22-6 lead early in the second quarter after a triple from Mario West. However, the Express countered with an 11-2 run capped by a triple from Joseph Yeo to inch closer at 24-17, at the end of the first quarter.
Reynel Hugnatan stepped out of the game at the 7:25 mark of the second as he was bloodied up accidentally by his teammate Mac Cardona. Zach Graham got the Express to within six at 35-29 after he exploded for a fast break layup. Asi Taulava added a putback at the 4:04 mark to further trim Meralco's lead down to four points.
Asi Taulava tries to keep possession versus Reynel Hugnatan (R). Jeff Venancio
Air21 tied the ball game at 41-all as Renren Ritualo buried back-to-back three's, the latter of which came at the 1:15 mark of the second period. However, Meralco took a 45-41 lead at halftime as Hugnatan and West scored.
The Express were lucky to be down by only four points even if Hodge exploded for 17 first half points.
The Express were lucky to be down by only four points even if Hodge exploded for 17 first half points.
Former Express Mike Cortez, made his old team pay after the break as he swiped the ball off Taulava’s hands leading to an and-1 play to give the Bolts a six point lead at 60-54.
The Bolts tried to pull away again near the tail-end of the third. West had a chance to complete an and- play at the 3:30 mark bit he missed the bonus free throw. Luckily for the Bolts, Jay-R Reyes was there for the put-back to give Meralco a double-digit lead at 70-59.
Sunday Salvacion sank two free throws with five seconds left in the third to give Meralco a 13-point lead, but Bonbon Custodio sank a jumper at the buzzer to bring their deficit down to 11 at 77-66 heading into the final quarter.
Sunday Salvacion sank two free throws with five seconds left in the third to give Meralco a 13-point lead, but Bonbon Custodio sank a jumper at the buzzer to bring their deficit down to 11 at 77-66 heading into the final quarter.
The Bolts continued to hold on to their double-digit lead midway into the final quarter. Taulava had a shot bringing Meralco's lead down to nine points at the 5:50 mark but he missed both free throws.
The 40-year-old Asi Taulava had a good game with 14 points and 15 rebounds but he could have score much more if he made his free throws. Still, his effort down the stretch gave his new team a shot at pulling off an upset. Air21's Graham struggled with only 22 points in the game while KG Canaleta scored 15, half of the output he had in their last win against the Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters.
The league also saw fit to honor Bolts head coach Ryan Gregorio, assistant Jong Uichico, Gilas team manager Butch Antonio, and naturalized center Marcus Douthit for their performance in the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship last August, which saw the Philippines finish in second place and qualify for the 2014 FIBA World Cup. - Carlo Pamintuan / AMD, GMA News
The scores:
Meralco 100 - West 29, Hodge 24, Cortez 17, Cardona 7, Wilson 6, Salvacion 5, Reyes 4, Hugnatan 4, Ross 2, Timberlake 2, Guevarra 0, Allado 0
Air 21 91 - Graham 22, Canaleta 15, Taulava 14, Custodio 10, Manuel 9, Yeo 9, Ritualo 6, Sharma 4, Atkins 2, Salamat 0, Menor 0, Burtscher 0
Quarter scoring: 24-17, 45-41, 77-66, 100-91
