Bolts slay Dragons to rescusitate Commissioner’s Cup campaign
Meralco import KJ McDaniels. –PBA IMAGES
It appeared like every little thing was conspiring towards Meralco heading into Friday night time.
With only a win to point out in six video games, the Bolts wanted to pump life into their PBA Commissioner’s Cup marketing campaign by taking up the fire-breathing Dragons of Bay Space, who had misplaced simply as soon as in seven earlier outings.
Fortuitously, a “breath of contemporary air” obtained Meralco going.
The Bolts saved it collectively in probably the most crucial moments to outlast the Dragons, 92-89 and pocket a much-needed victory at Sensible Araneta Coliseum.
It was solely a second win for Meralco, however for coach Norman Black, it was a giant enhance to a group that wanted to stare down a 50-point effort from Bay Space’s Andrew Nicholson.
“It’s one thing that we talked about: All the pieces is at all times doable, proper? Even with all of the adversity that we’re dealing with proper now,” Black mentioned, referring to the manpower woes hounding the group due to accidents and the failure of unique import Johnny O’Bryant to seek out his groove.
Half of these issues had been solved with the arrival of KJ McDaniels, who joined the Bolts in coaching solely final Tuesday. The undersized import figured prominently within the gallant stand, pulling down one robust basket after one other and accounting for 9 of Meralco’s remaining 13 factors that saved the pace-setting Dragons at bay.
“With KJ coming in, we thought we had like a breath of contemporary air and it might give us an opportunity to win,” Black mentioned of his new ward, who beforehand performed for TNT and NLEX.
Backstopping McDaniels’ 31 factors had been Raymond Almazan, Allein Maliksi, Chris Banchero and Bong Quinto who all completed in double figures, successfully plugging the manufacturing holes left by injured mainstays Chris Newsome and Cliff Hodge.
“Credit score to my teammates, they picked me up and so they nonetheless had confidence in me. They had been telling me to maintain capturing the ball,” McDaniels mentioned.
“[T]hose guys—they picked me up after I was down all through the sport. It’s a blessing to be again. I’m comfortable to get a W towards a prime group,” he went on.
Other than Nicholson’s 50, the Dragons additionally drew firepower from Kobey Lam, who chipped in 23 factors.
However no different Bay Space participant had greater than 5 factors.
“One factor I’m comfortable about … is we really performed protection tonight, which is one thing we haven’t been doing in any respect this convention,” Black mentioned.
Meralco could have benefited additionally from a key missed name within the stretch.
Down three within the final 21 seconds, Bay Space skipper Glen Yang missed a triple which the Bolts rebounded. However Meralco didn’t get previous the halfcourt line in eight seconds, an infraction the referees missed.
Ref suspended
The PBA’s technical committee has mentioned it has fingered who was at fault and commissioner Willie Marcial added the referee will likely be suspended.
Nevertheless, Bay Space coach Brian Goorjian didn’t let that late sequence diminish how his undermanned opponent fought with poise.
“[T]his group actually pushed our guys and actually challenged them—to catch the ball, to dribble the ball, to maneuver the ball. It was actually troublesome for us and so they pressured a number of turnovers. After which they’re very bodily on the glass. And people two issues actually damage [us],” he advised reporters on his means out of the venue. Later within the night time, Rain or Shine edged NorthPort, 76-75.
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