BOLTS KINURYENTE ANG ROAD WARRIORS

Mga laro ngayon:

Araneta Coliseum

4 p.m. – Blackwater vs Terrafirma

6:45 p.m.-  Rain or Shine vs Northport

HINDI kinakitaan ng pangangalawang ang Meralco at nanatiling mainit upang pataubin ang NLEX, 110-100, sa pagsisimula ng pagpapatuloy ng PBA Governors’ Cup nitong Biyernes sa Araneta Coliseum.

Kumamada si Tony Bishop ng 32 points, 13 rebounds at 8 assists habang pinangunahan ang opensa ng Bolts na naging daan para maaga nilang makontrol ang laro at ipagkibit-balikat ang tangkang paghahabol ng Road Warriors.

Tumapos din ang fellow starters ng Panamanian na sina Aaron Black, Chris Newsome, Allein Maliksi at Cliff Hodge also sa double figures, kung saan ang huli ay kumana ng kanyang sariling double-double na 11 points at 12 boards.

Nalusutan ng Meralco ang 41 points ni NLEX import KJ McDaniels para maitala ang ikatlong sunod na panalo at manatiling walang bahid ang marka.

Nalimitahan ng tropa ni winning coach Norman Black ang NLEX sa 10 points na mababa sa kanilang average tungo sa ikalawang sunod na pagkabigo upang mahulog sa 4-2 kartada.

“I think we’ve located a formula that we can use to win. It starts with defense,” sabi ni Black.

“Well, it starts with Tony Bishop, actually, being a very, very solid import and being very consistent every game. But it really starts with defense. The fact that we can actually go out and slow teams down and get them out of their offense,” dagdag ni Black.

“And once we control the defensive boards then it gives us the chance to go out and run. Once we start running, we’ll have a better chance of winning games because our halfcourt offense is still a work in progress. But when we can push the pace, we’ll have a good chance of winning.”

Tumipa si Kevin Alas ng 16 points mula sa bench at nagdagdag sina Calvin Oftana at new acquisition Matt Nieto ng tig-10 points para sa NLEX na nabigong maiganti ang  93-102 loss sa Phoenix Super LPG noong Christmas Day. CLYDE MARIANO

Iskor:

Meralco (110) – Bishop 32, Black 19, Newsome 18, Maliksi 17, Hodge 11, Quinto 6, Caram 4, Almazan 3, Belo 0, Canete 0, Pasaol 0.

NLEX (100)  – McDaniels 41, Alas 16, Oftana 10, Nieto 10, Semerad 6, Cruz 6, Ighalo 5, Trollano 2, Varilla 2, Quiñahan 2, Rosales 0, Soyud 0, Magat 0.

QS:  33-18, 62-45, 88-74, 110-100.