In a game that became an all-Filipino duel a few seconds after the opening tip, Meralco held its own in a shootout with the run-and-gun Rain or Shine team, pulling off a 121-111 victory at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo Sunday night.
Chris Newsome and Bong Quinto led the Bolts’ spread-out scoring, notching a second win in three nights and thus gaining an early lead in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup with Hong Kong Eastern and NorthPort at 2-0.
Even minus imports for both sides, the two teams slugged out what became the highest-scoring match thus far in the mid-season tourney.
Magnolia beat Blackwater, 118-100, to post the previous highest output in the conference.
The Bolts lost import Akil Mitchell 12 seconds after tipoff as he broke his nose on an accidental hit by Keith Datu’s arm. The Elasto Painters were without Deon Thompson, who hasn’t secured his “special work permit” yet.
Newsome and his teammates were hardly fazed by Mitchell’s early exit, setting the pace most of the way en route to a follow-up to their 111-109 escape versus the Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters Friday night.
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Newsome scored 21 of his game-high 25 in the first half, then Quinto (20 points), Jansen Rios (16), Norbert Torres (13), Raymond Almazan (12) and Cliff Hodge (11) also lit it up, helping one another to foil ROS’ bid for a “W” in its conference debut.
The Elasto Painters were stuck in the battle before eventually yielding with Datu (17 points), Adrian Nocum (15), Leonard Santillan (14), Jhonard Clarito (13), Caelan Tiongson (12) and Andrei Caracut) carrying the load for the team.
After falling behind by 11 at 66-77, the E-Painters needed help gaining ground.
They’re at 0-1 as they return to play Wednesday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium versus Hong Kong Eastern.
Meanwhile, the Bolts will be up next versus the Terrafirma Dyip Friday at NAS inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex. (SB)
The scores
Meralco 121 – Newsome 25, Quinto 20, Rios 16, Torres 13, Almazan 12, Hodge 11, Caram 10, Black 9, Pascual 2, Jose 2, Pasaol 1, Mitchell 0.
Rain or Shine 111 – Datu 17, Nocum 15, Santillan 14, Clarito 13, Tiongson 12, Caracut 11, Lemetti 9, Belga 6, Norwood 5, Malonzo 5, Ildefonso 2, Demusis 2.
Quarterscores: 33-25, 52-49, 89-81, 121-111