PBA: Meralco ends NLEX win streak, bolsters playoffs hopes

Meralco Bolts’ Chris Newsome within the PBA Philippine Cup sport in opposition to NLEX Road Warriors. –PBA IMAGES

Defending champion Meralco put a halt to NLEX’s six-game profitable streak through claiming a 108-92 victory that boosted its quarterfinal hopes within the PBA Philippine Cup on Sunday at Philsports Arena in Pasig City.

Chris Newsome, rookie CJ Cansino, Bong Quinto, Chris Banchero and the returning Cliff Hodge performed key portions because the Bolts picked up their 2d directly triumph for a 5-5 card with a sport left of their rollercoaster removing spherical marketing campaign.

Meralco additionally denied NLEX’s first crack at securing a quarterfinals berth whilst additionally dealing the Road Warriors their first primary adversity of their spectacular run at this level of the all-Filipino event.

NLEX fell to a tie for 2d at 6-2 with San Miguel Beer, which previous beaten Blackwater within the first sport.

Newsome scored 21 issues on best of 5 assists and two steals, Cansino dropped 20 issues off the bench, Quinto and Banchero added 18 and 16 whilst Hodge had 12 issues, 5 rebounds and 4 assists.

Hodge returned to motion after serving a one-game suspension for his tough foul on Magnolia’s Zavier Lucero all through their sport a few weeks in the past.

Robert Bolick hit 22 issues however the Road Warriors couldn’t entire their comeback in opposition to a Meralco facet that sorely wanted a win to steer clear of additional headaches.

Meralco wraps up its eliminations on Friday in opposition to outdated rival Barangay Ginebra at Smart Araneta Coliseum sooner than moving its center of attention to the Basketball Champions League Asia marketing campaign in Dubai.

NLEX seeks to dance again and safe a quarterfinal seat on Sunday reverse Phoenix on the Big Dome.