PBA: CJ Cansino, Bong Quinto take charge as Meralco jolts winless Terrafirma

CJ Cansino and Bong Quinto took turns in the second half to carry Meralco to a 107-91 beating of Terrafirma and return to the win column of thePBA Season 49 Governors' Cup on Wednesday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. 

Quinto shrugged off an injury early in the fourth period, returning to the court and igniting for three of his four triples to give the Bolts a 103-85 lead with 3:17 to go in the game. 

He finished with 22 points on 4-of-5 clip from three-point range together with three rebounds as Meralco improved to 2-1 in Group A while the Dyip fell to a 0-3 hole. 

Before Quinto, it was rookie Cansino doing the offense for the reigning Philippine Cup champions. The first-year guard out of University of the Philippines knocked down back-to-back three-pointers in the third for a 69-57 spread before another long basket from him sent them to an 86-75 cushion in the fourth. 

However, another rookie from the other side of the court made an early impression. 

Former Mapua sniper Paolo Hernandez caught fire, shooting four triples in the second half, two of which were nailed in the fourth quarter that allowed Terrafirma to cut the deficit to a single digit, 90-84. 

However, that was when Quinto, who hurt his left ankle at the 10:24 mark of the fourth, went up in flames to finish the job for the Bolts, who were looking to bounce back following a 93-73 defeat against TNT. 

Cansino tallied 16 points while import Allen Durham churned out 23 points, 12 rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Banchero chipped in 17 points, five dimes, three boards, and one swat.

Stanley Pringle led Terrafirma with 19 points while Hernandez put together 15 markers, but those were not enough as the Dyip extended their slump.

Scores:

Meralco 107 – Durham 23, Quinto 22, Banchero 17, Cansino 16, Maliksi 12, Mendoza 5, Hodge 4, Caram 4, Torres 2, Pascual 2, Bates 0, Pasaol 0, Rios 0.

Terrafirma 91 – Pringle 19, Hester 18, Hernandez 15, Tiongson 9, Standhardinger 9, Sangalang 7, Carino 7, Carino 4, Ferrer 4, Cahilig 3, Hanapi 3, Olivario 0.

Quarters: 31-19, 56-43, 79-67, 107-91.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News