Bolts weather Christian storm

MANILA, Philippines — For the second time in the PBA Season 48 Philippine Cup playoffs, a marquee player scored his career high against Meralco.

But just like last time in the quarterfinals against NLEX and Robert Bolick, it was the Bolts who wound up with the coveted win.

Laying to waste the 41-point scorcher of Christian Standhardinger for Barangay Ginebra, Meralco hacked out a 103-91 verdict that tied up their PBA Philippine Cup semis duel at 1-1 yesterday at the MOA Arena.

Later, San Miguel Beer repeated over Rain or Shine, 106-89, to go 2-0 in their Final Four duel.

June Mar Fajardo punched in 18 of his 22 in the third as SMB broke away and followed up its 101-98 Game 1 escape act.

While letting “C-Stan” do the heavy lifting then gassing out in the end, Luigi Trillo’s troops relied on balanced assault to strike back after dropping Game 1 of the best-of-seven contest last Friday, 88-92.

“Basketball is a team sport. There are five guys on the floor and it all comes down to utilizing these pieces,” said Best Player of the Game Chris Newsome, who shot 20 and joined topscorer Allein Maliksi (25), Cliff Hodge (13 plus 10 rebounds) and Chris Banchero (11) in Meralco’s scoring parade.

Defensive-oriented Meralco spoiled Standhardinger’s eruption nine days after thrashing Bolick’s 48-point sizzler in a 97-93 thriller in Game 1 of its previous race-to-two contest versus the Road Warriors.

“We’re okay with letting one guy go off if that means everybody else is cold and not in rhythm ‘coz at the end of the day, all we need is a win,” said Newsome.