PBA: Bong Quinto stars as Meralco outlasts Rain or Shine in OT

Bong Quinto shone in extra period as the Meralco Bolts outlasted the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in overtime, 121-117, on Saturday in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Bolts were leading 98-95 with 3:51 remaining in the fourth quarter, but freebies from Adrian Nocum, Andrei Caracut, and Santi Santillan gave the Elasto Painters a 100-98 lead with 2:32 left. Norbert Torres drilled a trey to hand the Bolts the lead, but a foul on Santillan brought him to the line and put Rain or Shine at 102-101.

A foul by Santillan on Quinto put the latter to the stripe and a split forced the game into overtime as Caracut and Allein Maliksi missed their attempts.

In extra period, Quinto handed Meralco's first seven points to give his squad a 109-104 lead. Meralco had the lead 114-106, before Rain or Shine head coach Yeng Guiao was called for technical twice, forcing him out of the court. 

Nocum's efforts in overtime cut Rain or Shine's lead to three, but a split from Maliksi off Gabe Norwood's foul sealed the deal for the Bolts.

Maliksi paced the Bolts with 26 points, while Quinto, Torres, Cliff Hodge, and Chris Newsome chipped in 16 points apiece as Meralco barged into the winning column after falling short to Blackwater on opening day of the conference.

Nocum had 29 points, while Santillan had 25 markers for the Elasto Painters.

Scores:

Meralco 121 – Maliksi 26, Newsome 16, Quinto 16, Torres 16, Hodge 16, Caram 13, Black 6, Pascual 5, Mendoza 4, Rios 2, Pasaol 1, Banchero 0, Jose 0.

Rain or Shine 117 – Nocum 29, Santillan 25, Mamuyac 15, Belga 9, Datu 9, Clarito 9, Caracut 8, Norwood 6, Belo 3, Borboran 2, Demusis 2, Ildefonso 0.

Quarters: 28-20, 49-42, 80-77, 102-102, 121-117.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News