Bolts avert collapse, thwart Bossing

MANILA, Philippines — Holding an 18-point tear nearly halfway through the fourth quarter should have led to a hassle-free, runaway triumph for the leading squad.

But a “blackout” towards the end nearly spelled doom for Meralco against the gritty Blackwater.

Fortunately for the Bolts, they managed to generate enough power to get the job done in the end, 116-114, and catch the Bossing at 2-1 in Group B of the PBA Governors’ Cup last night at Ynares Center-Antipolo.

“Being up by 18 points and kind of crumbling there, that’s not what we want to do as a team,” Meralco gunner Chris Banchero said after the escape act, which he helped achieve with his defensive rebound off a miss by Kentrell Barkley and subsequent outlet pass to Chris Newsome for the go-ahead layup with 3.9 seconds left.

“When you’re up by 18, you have to figure out how to put the other team away,” he added.

The Bolts broke away from the erstwhile unbeaten Bossing with a 34-18 salvo in the third quarter. They were firmly in control until the 7:35 mark of the final canto with Banchero’s third four-point shot giving them a 110-92 upperhand.

What was supposed to be a romp turned into a thrilling race to the finish instead, with the Blackwater duo of Sedrick Barefield and RK Ilagan making sure of that.

After Ilagan knotted the count at 114-114, the Bolts turned to the Banchero-Newsome connection to get the upperhand back. They then held tough on defense, forcing Ilagan to fumble the ball in the Bossing’s last possession to escape.

“You have to give Blackwater credit. We’re up 18 but they have no quit,” said Meralco coach Luigi Trillo.

“And that’s a testament to what coach Pat (Aquino) has been doing there. They’re playing really well. Also Barefield, he was unstoppable in the fourth. Good lang we’re able to shoot the last shot on the pass to New (Newsome).”

Later, Rain or Shine snapped out of its rut, beating erstwhile spotless Phoenix, 105-98.

Aaron Fuller (28-16) and Adrian Nocum (18-6-8) showed the way as ROS got on the board after a 0-2 start and dropped the Fuel Masters to 3-1.