PBA Semifinals 2018:

Alaska KOs Meralco, enters Finals anew

November 17, 2018 – Cuneta Astrodome

PBA Semifinals News 2018: Alaska Aces knocked out the Meralco Bolts, 99-92 to enter the Finals of the 2018 PBA Governors’ Cup this Saturday at the Cuneta Astrodome. Reinforcement Mike Harris starred for Alaska with his 27 buckets and 14 rebounds, while JVee Casio made 14 points.

Notes:

➤ It was an all-around team effort for the Aces as Vic Manuel, Jeron Teng, and Kevin Racal all made 10 buckets apiece. Alaska is poised to reenter the PBA Finals after missing the cut for two years straight.

➤ Import Allen Durham powered the Bolts with his 31 points and 14 rebounds but fell short of leading them to a third straight Governors’ Cup championship appearance. Veteran Reynel Hugnatan also added 13 markers for Meralco.

Alaska and Magnolia will battle for Game 1 of the best-of-seven PBA Finals series on December 5.

Game Scores:
Quarters: 21-28, 47-48, 68-60, 99-92.

alaska: 99

Harris 27, Casio 14, Manuel 10, Teng 10, Racal 10, Banchero 9, Enciso 7, Baclao 4, Thoss 4, Pascual 4, Potts 0, Exciminiano 0.

meralco: 92

Durham 31, Hugnatan 13, Newsome 12, Amer 10, Salva 10, Lanete 7, Caram 7, Hodge 2, Tolomia 0, Faundo 0, Canaleta 0, Dillinger 0.

Posted on November 17, 2018 - Cuneta Astrodome

Written by Rock Punzalan for Philippine Basketball News Team

PBA Semifinals 2018:

Alaska stops Meralco, 104-102

PBA Semifinals 2018: Alaska stops Meralco, 104-102

November 15, 2018 – Cuneta Astrodome

PBA Semifinals 2018: Alaska Aces stopped Meralco Bolts, 104-102 to lead 2-1 in Game 3 of their Semifinals tiff in the 2018 PBA Governors’ Cup this Thursday at the Cuneta Astrodome. Import Mike Harris powered the Aces with his double-double of 31 markers, 24 boards, and 7 dimes. Simon Enciso and Chris Banchero also made waves by scoring 17 buckets each respectively.

Notes:

➤ The Aces survived the potential game-winners from import Allen Durham who missed an uncontested layup, and Reynel Hugnatan who botched a put-back with the Aces leading 103-102 before the end of regulation.

Alaska shot marginally better than Meralco from the trey territory, making 10 of 23 treys at 43%, against the Bolts 8 of 24 total (33%). Alaska also had better opportunities at the charity lane, converting 22 of 24 foul throws (91%), to Meralco’s 12 of 19 freebies at 63% free-throws total.

 Durham had a monstrous 37 points, 13 caroms, and 8 assists performance, but it was not enough as the Bolts have now lost twice in a row to the Aces. Meanwhile, power veteran Hugnatan also finished with 19 points and 5 rebounds.

➤ The Bolts and the Aces will resume battle for Game 4 of their Semis showdown on Saturday, November 16 at the Cuneta Astrodome.

Game Scores:
Quarters: 25-22, 47-53, 75-74, 104-102.

alaska: 104

Harris 31, Banchero 17, Enciso 17, Baclao 11, Manuel 8, Casio 7, Thoss 6, Cruz 4, Racal 3, Potts 0, Exciminiano 0.

meralco: 102

Durham 37, Hugnatan 19, Newsome 18, Amer 11, Faundo 4, Caram 4, Lanete 3, Salva 3, Dillinger 3, Tolomia 0, Canaleta 0.

Posted on November 16, 2018 - Cuneta Astrodome

Written by Rock Punzalan for Philippine Basketball News Team

PBA Semifinals 2018:

Alaska freezes Meralco, 100-95

November 13 – Mall of Asia Arena

PBA Semifinals 2018: Alaska Aces froze the Meralco Bolts, 100-95 to level their Semifinals series to 1-1 in the 2018 PBA Governors’ Cup this Tuesday at the Mall of Asia Arena. Import Mike Harris posted monstrous numbers for the Aces with his double-double of 37 markers and 19 boards, while Simon Enciso uncorked 23 buckets with 15 coming from three-point bombs.

Notes:

➤ Ace guard Chris Banchero also registered 13 points, 11 caroms and 8 dimes while post-operators Vic Manuel and Noy Baclao contributed 7 and 6 points apiece.

➤ The Aces effectively halted the Meralco onslaught as the defeat was only the first loss of the Bolts for the month.

➤ Alaska had impeccable free-throw shooting, with 20 of 21 charities made (95%) compared to the Bolts 13 of 19 (68%). They also outrebounded Meralco, hauling 48 caroms compared to 35 total.

➤ Meanwhile, reinforcement Allen Durham powered the defeated Bolts with 24 baskets, 12 dishes and 9 boards while Nico Salva also added 20 points.

Alaska and Meralco will resume hostilities for Game 3 of their Best-of-Five series showdown this Thursday, November 14 at the Cuneta Astrodome.

Game Scores:
Quarters: 23-21, 47-40, 74-60, 100-95.

alaska: 100

Harris 37, Enciso 23, Banchero 13, Manuel 7, Baclao 6, Racal 5, Casio 4, Exciminiano 3, Teng 2, Thoss 0.

meralco: 95

Durham 24, Salva 20, Amer 14, Hugnatan 12, Tolomia 10, Newsome 6, Caram 4, Canaleta 3, Faundo 2, Ballesteros 0, Dillinger 0.

Posted on November 14 - Mall of Asia Arena

Written by Rock Punzalan for Philippine Basketball News Team

PBA 2018:

Meralco forces deathmatch, blasts Phoenix, 90-74

November 7, 2018 – Cuneta Astrodome

PBA News 2018: Meralco Bolts forced a quarterfinals deathmatch, as it blasted the Phoenix Fuel Masters, 90-74 in the 2018 PBA Governors’ Cup this Wednesday at Cuneta Astrodome. Import Allen Durham paced the Bolts with his double-double of 26 buckets and 16 boards while Chris Newsome also finished with 16 markers.

Notes:

➤ Former San Beda star guard Baser Amer also added 14 points and drained two clutch threes for the Bolts in crunch time.

Meralco showed their offensive firepower as they shot better on all cylinders against Phoenix, firing 34 of 86 shots for a 39% field goal percentage against Phoenix’s 28 of 93 (30%). The Bolts also connected well from way beyond the arc by making 7 of 23 treys to the Fuel Masters’ 2 of 26 threes made.

➤ Reinforcement Eric Phelps led the losing Phoenix with his own double-double of 27 points and 15 caroms. Meanwhile, temperamental forward Calvin Abueva also chipped-in 18 markers for the Fuel Masters.

Phoenix and Meralco will resume hostilities once more this Friday, November 9 for a do-or-die rubber match and fight for the remaining Semis spot against the Alaska Aces.

Game Scores:
Quarters: 15-17, 33-35, 66-55, 90-74.

meralco: 90

Durham 26, Newsome 16, Amer 14, Canaleta 9, Tolomia 9, Hugnatan 7, Salva 5, Faundo 2, Dillinger 2, Ballesteros 0, Caram 0, Hodge 0, Jamito 0.

phoenix: 74

Phelps 27, Abueva 18, Perkins 9, Wright 8, Chua 6, Intal 4, Jazul 2, Revilla 0, Wilson 0, Kramer 0, Mendoza 0.

Posted on November 8, 2018 - Cuneta Astrodome

Written by Rock Punzalan for Philippine Basketball News Team

PBA 2018:

Meralco mauls San Miguel, 111-81

November 3, 2018 – Araneta Coliseum

PBA News 2018: Meralco Bolts mauled the San Miguel Beermen, 111-81 in the 2018 PBA Governors’ Cup this Saturday at the Araneta Coliseum. Import Allen Durham led the Bolts with freakish 35 points, 26 boards, and 7 dimes, while power veteran Reynel Hugnatan turned back father time to contribute 19 points and 6 caroms.

Notes:

Chris Newsome also chipped-in 14 points and 12 assists, while diminutive point guard Baser Amer added 12 buckets and 10 assists.

➤ Import Kevin Murphy starred for the losing Beermen with his 32 points and 10 rebounds, while Alex Cabagnot had 16 points for SMB who saw their four-game winning streak unceremoniously halted.

➤ The Bolts are now in the hunt for the last quarterfinals slot as they await the outcome of the last game of Talk ‘ N Text KaTropa who’s now at 4-6. Meralco won its’ last 4 games and is holding a 5-6 win-loss slate. San Miguel dropped to a 6-5 record but is assured of a quarterfinals slot despite the loss.

Game Scores:
Quarters: 26-25, 44-49, 78-66, 111-81.

meralco: 111

Durham 35, Hugnatan 19, Newsome 14, Amer 12, Hodge 9, Canaleta 8, Salva 6, Faundo 2, Jamito 0, Tolomia 0, Bono 0.

san miguel: 81

Murphy 32, Cabagnot 16, Santos 11, Lassiter 8, Standhardinger 6, Pessumal 5, Nabong 2, Fajardo 1, Rosser 0, Ross 0, Vigil 0, Heruela 0.

Posted on November 4, 2018 - Araneta Coliseum - Quezon City

Written by Rock Punzalan for Philippine Basketball News Team

PBA 2018:

PBA 2018: Alaska Aces pounces Meralco, 80-72

August 24, 2018 – MOA Arena

PBA News 2018: Alaska Aces pounced Meralco Bolts, 80-72 to register its first victory in the 2018 PBA Governors’ Cup this Friday at the MOA Arena in Pasay. Mike Harris starred for the Aces with his 23 markers and 15 boards, while returning Chris Banchero had 13 points, 6 caroms and 5 dimes.

Notes:

Banchero came back from a personal leave of absence (due to personal emergency) to lead the Aces anew. The Alaska franchise emerged victorious even if they traded away their star forward Calvin Abueva to the Phoenix FuelMasters.

➤ Reliable Allen Durham backstopped the Bolts with 21 points, 11 rebounds and 4 dishes, while Chris Newsome made 14 goals and 7 rebounds.

➤ Alaska is now 1-0 in the Governors’ Cup, while Meralco fell to a regrettable 1-2 slate.

Game Scores:
Quarters: 18-22, 33-40, 61-50, 80-72.

alaska: 80

Harris 23, Banchero 13, Enciso 11, Manuel 10, Baclao 6, Exciminiano 5, Racal 5, Galliguez 3, Pascual 2, Teng 2, Casio 0.

meralco: 72

Durham 21, Newsome 14, Amer 13, de Ocampo 8, Caram 6, Salva 5, Canaleta 3, Hodge 2, Hugnatan 0, Laneta 0, Tolomia 0.

Posted on August 25, 2018 - MOA Arena Pasay

Written by Rock Punzalan for Philippine Basketball News Team

PBA 2018:

Import-less Talk 'N Text dumps Meralco, 92-90

August 20, 2018 – Ynares

PBA 2018: Talk ‘N Text KaTropa shocked sister team the Meralco Bolts, 92-90, in a come-from-behind win in the 2018 PBA Governor’s Cup eliminations this Sunday at the Ynares Center. Terrence Romeo led TNT with his 23 points, 10 assists and 8 rebounds, while RR Pogoy chipped-in 19 buckets.

Notes:

➤ National mainstay Jayson Castro also added 16 buckets and 6 assists for the KaTropa.

➤ TNT won the game despite having no reinforcement. They let go of import Mike Glover after a dismal performance against the NLEX Road Warriors, who had import Olu Ashaolu playing with almost one leg due to patellar injury.

Allen Durham paced the losing Bolts with his 27 points, 22 boards and 8 dishes, while local Baser Amer contributed 18 markers.

Both TNT and Meralco sport identical 1-1 win-loss slate in the PBA Governors’ Cup.

Game Scores:
Quarters: 23-23, 43-41, 68-61, 92-90.

Talk 'n text: 92

Romeo 23, Pogoy 19, Castro 16, Rosario 13, Williams 7, Garcia 7, Semerad 3, Golla 2, Tamsi 2, Paredes 0, Carey 0.

meralco: 90

Durham 27, Amer 18, Newsome 10, Hodge 9, Canaleta 9, Tolomia 8, Caram 6, de Ocampo 2, Hugnata 1, Salva 0, Sedurifa 0, Lanete 0.

Posted on August 20, 2018 - Ynares Center

Written by Rock Punzalan for Philippine Basketball News Team

PBA 2018:

Durham lifts Meralco past Columbian Dyip, 109-106

August 17, 2018 – Ynares Arena

PBA News 2018: Allen Durham lifted the Meralco Bolts over Columbian Dyip, 109-106, to begin it’s campaign in the 2018 PBA Governors’ Cup eliminations this Friday at Ynares Arena in Pasig. Durham registered monstrous numbers to lead the Bolts with 26 points, 20 rebounds and 9 assists, while guard Baser Amer added 23 buckets, 8 boards, and 6 assists.

Notes:

Mike Tolomia also added 14 points for Meralco, while Cliff Hodge made 11 points, 4 rebounds and 2 blocks.

➤ Import Akeem Wright paced the defeated Dyip with a double-double of 30 markers, 14 caroms and 4 assists, while Jerramy King contributed 24 points, 8 rebounds and 5 dimes.

Wright appeared to be injured in the closing seconds of the court skirmish as he was replaced abruptly with two ticks left in the game.

Game Scores:
Quarters: 26-25, 53-43, 85-76, 109-106.

meralco: 109

Durham 26, Amer 23, Tolomia 14, Hodge 11, Caram 10, de Ocampo 10, Canaleta 9, Salva 4, Newsome 2, Hugnatan 0, Laneta 0, Bono 0.

columbian: 106

Wright 30, King 24, Khobuntin 10, Corpuz 10, Escoto 8, Camson 8, McCarthy 5, Celda 5, Tubid 2, Cahilig 2, Cabrera 2, Lastimosa 0.

Posted on August 18, 2018 - Ynares Arena Pasig

Written by Rock Punzalan for Philippine Basketball News Team

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