PBA: Meralco completes semis solid, trumps NLEX

MANILA, Philippines—Meralco eradicated NLEX with a 97-86 victory to finish the semifinals solid of the 2021 PBA Philippine Cup Friday at DHVSU Health club in Bacolor, Pampanga.

The Bolts, who have been pressured to make use of their twice-to-beat benefit towards the Street Warriors, will face Magnolia in the semifinals which begin Sunday.

After a back-and-forth contest within the first quarter, the Bolts managed to tug away within the second occurring a 10-0 run for the 32-21 lead off of Cliff Hodge’s layup on the 10:02 mark of the interval.

Meralco’s lead grew to a lot as 18, 62-44, when Chris Newsome drained a three-pointer with 4:31 left within the third.

The Bolts misplaced the opener, 81-80, after rookie Calvin Oftana’s clutch play that prolonged the quarterfinals showdown for the Street Warriors.

“Everytime you play towards Yeng Guiao’s groups it’s at all times going to be a really powerful sport, a really bodily sport, there’s going to be lots of depth,” mentioned Bolts head coach Norman Black.

“They have been altering defenses to attempt to confuse us on offense and I believed my guys did an excellent job of having the ability to see precisely what they have been doing defensively they usually reacted very effectively.”

Regardless of NLEX’s altering protection, the Bolts nonetheless discovered their stride hitting 48.1 % of their pictures, 37-of-77, from the sphere and going 10-of-26 from deep.

The Street Warriors, in the meantime, shot 39.1% or 27-of-69 from the sphere however was a paltry 6-of-23 or 26.1% from deep.

Chris Newsome led the Bolts with 23 factors, 9 rebounds, six assists, and two blocks whereas Cliff Hodge had a close to double-double of 16 factors and 9 boards.

Don Trollano led NLEX with 19 factors.

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