Bolts tame Singletary, Bulls to enter semis

MANILA, Philippines - Best Import contender Michael Singletary went missing in this important game, and Meralco took advantage of things, pouncing on Barako Bull, 86-68, to nail the first berth in the PBA Governors Cup semifinals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Wednesday night.

The Bolts pummeled the Barako Bull team that hardly got anything from the import that was the yardstick among imports during the elimination round, pulling off an easy win that sent Meralco to its first Final Four appearance since joining the league in 2010.

“I just hope we continue to keep heads-up play whoever we go up against in the semifinals. We’re happy we’re here but the task is not over. We want to continue to climb the ladder and hopefully make the mountaintop,” said Meralco coach Ryan Gregorio.

Gregorio heaped praises on his coaching staff, especially defensive coach Jong Uichico, for helping him prepare the team for this quarters battle with Barako.

“In as much as I would like to think of ways to describe our run, much is to the coaching genius of coach Jong and the other members of our coaching staff,” said Gregorio. “Our defense held, and whenever we made a stop, we ran them to the ground.”

Meralco sent Barako down on its knees, ending its campaign in the season without a semis finish.

The Energy Cola fell by the wayside with a cumulative 15-25 win-loss record, finishing eighth in both the Philippine Cup and the Fiesta Conference and outside the Top Five in this tourney.

Barako wasn’t able to get into the battle, with Singletary turning dud in this contest.

Singletary was a big disappointment making just nine points on merely 10 field-goal attempts. Before this game, he averaged a tournament-best 36 points and 23.8 field attempts.

He was 2-of-7 from the field, 5-of-8 from the stripe and committed five turnovers.

The Bolts pounded Singletary’s lethargic game, taking the half at 44-27 and leading by as many as 20 before completing the emphatic victory.

Chris Ross did most of the defensive job on Singletary, allowing Mario West to do his thing on the offensive end, finishing with a game-high 25 points that went with seven rebounds, four assists, one steal and one block.

“Mario West is a total package beyond description. He’s the most vocal person in the locker room and he makes sure to follow through with action,” said Gregorio.

Starting forwards Reynel Hugnatan and Cliff Hodge combined for 28 points and 16 rebounds while Macmac Cardona contributed 12 markers and five boards coming off the bench.

Mike Cortez added just six points as he failed to finish the game, rushed to a nearby hospital before halftime after sustaining a deep cut above his right eye.

Meanwhile, elims top-notcher Petron Blaze and titleholder Rain or Shine also try to go for the semis clincher versus Barangay Ginebra and Globalport, respectively, in Day Two of playoff action over at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City Thursday night.

“We’re excited. We want to play hard and do things right on both ends and hopefully we could play to our full potential,” said coach Gie Abanilla whose Petron Boosters are out to stretch their eight-game run in the elims.

“We had a twice-to-beat advantage in the last conference and we messed it up. The memory of that keeps us on our toes. We can’t let it happen again. We are ready to defend out title,” said Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao.