Meralco Bolts’ Aaron Black in the PBA Philippine Cup. –PBA IMAGES
MANILA, Philippines–With its window to make the playoffs getting more and more perilous, Meralco on Friday night made sure that it gave itself a good chance of advancing with an 82-76 nipping of Phoenix in the PBA Philippine Cup at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Aaron Black starred with 18 points, Chris Newsome added 15 while Chris Banchero and Allein Maliksi at least 13 each as the Bolts moved up in the standings, claiming the No. 8 spot with two more games left in their elimination round schedule.
“That Phoenix team has no quit in them. We’re both down in the standings right now so every game is important. We know that both teams have their backs against the wall but something’s gotta give,” head coach Luigi Trillo said, whose charges improved to a 4-5 win-loss record.
READ: Luigi Trillo left shrugging over Meralco’s place in PBA standings
“Our hope staying [in the the hunt for] the playoffs. Had we lost, we would’ve not made it anymore. Thankfully, we have that chance and we have to make the most out of that moving forward,” added Black.
Whatever chance Meralco has, moving forward was dampened by a last-minute injury on Newsome, the club’s dynamic cornerstone.
“New felt something,” Trillo said referring to Newsome’s collision with Phoenix’s Javee Mocon. “We have to have it checked first. Obviously, he limped out [of the floor]. Hopefully, it’s nothing serious. Until then, [we’ll wait for] something conclusive from the MRI.”
A Newsome absence will definitely hurt Meralco as its last two games will be against Magnolia and defending champion San Miguel.
Phoenix got the goods from rookie Kenneth Tuffin, who finished with 14 points and helped the Fuel Masters pull within two, 79-76, with a step-back jumper with 20 ticks remaining.
But with Kent Salado the only other play to register a twin-digit output, the petrol club–which is missing young star Tyler Tio and Sean Manganti–fell to 3-7, its chances of getting into the next round taking a massive hit.
PBA SCORES
MERALCO 82 – Black 18, Newsome 15, Banchero 14, Maliksi 13, Hodge 6, Caram 6, Bates 4, Almazan 3, Quinto 3, Pasaol 0, Torres 0, Pascual 0
PHOENIX 76 – Tuffin 14, Salado 12, Jazul 9, Rivero 9, Mocon 7, Garcia 6, Perkins 5, Muyang 4, Verano 4, Alejandro 3, Soyud 3, Daves 0, Camacho 0
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QUARTERS: 24-21, 34-38, 60-53, 82-76.