Meralco beats Ginebra to extend quarterfinals series

Meralco Bolts’ Akil Mitchell and Chris Newsome leads their Game 2 win over Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Meralco kept it together in the second half on Friday night, putting out fire after fire on the way to a 108-104 victory over Ginebra in Game 2 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals.

The Bolts, behind the heroics of cornerstone Chris Newsome and Jansen Rios, leveled the short series against the crowd darlings, forging a you-or-me Game 3 set this Sunday.

Article continues after this advertisement

SCHEDULE: 2024-2025 PBA Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals

“Whatever way we got it, whatever it takes to get this win… we did that,” head coach Luigi Trillo said shortly after the victory at Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Malate, Manila.

“We haven’t done anything, though; we have to focus on one more game to get things done,” he added.

Article continues after this advertisement

Meralco Bolts’ Chris Newsome during their Game 2 win over Barangay GInebra Gin Kings in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Newsome had 24 points and five assists, while Rios chipped in 15 as the pair also locked down on defense just when the Gin Kings tried to threatened.

Cliff Hodge chipped in 17 points, Bong Quinto 14, as import Akil Mitchell had his prints all over the game once again with a triple-double of 13 points, 17 boards, and 10 assists.

READ: PBA: Luigi Trillo has no excuse for Meralco’s Game 1 loss to Ginebra

Barangay Ginebra had a chance to send the game to overtime on an RJ Abarrientos quadshot, but the rookie’s attempt was a tad too strong, paving the way to a thrilling rubber match for one of the last two Final Four spots alongside TNT and league-leading NorthPort.

Justin Brownlee showed the way for the Gin Kings with 36 points, while Scottie Thompson had 21 points and nine rebounds. Abarrientos had 12 and Japeth Aguilar 10 in the loss that also denied coach Tim Cone an early off to focus on the national basketball program.

The PBA is set to go on a mid-playoffs break to allow Gilas Pilipinas to prepare for a mini-tournament in Doha, Qatar, and the final window of the Asia Cup qualifiers that will pit the Philippines against Chinese Taipei and vengeful New Zealand.

The Scores :

MERALCO 108 – Newsome 24, Hodge 17, Rios 15, Quinto 14, Mitchell 13, Banchero 13, Black 8, Almazan 2, Cansino 2, Bates 0, Pascual 0, Caram 0

GINEBRA 103 – Brownlee 36, Thompson 21, Abarrientos 12, J.Aguilar 10, Rosario 9, Malonzo 9, Ahanmisi 2

QUARTERSCORES: 26-25, 58-53, 85-81, 108-104.