By JAY R. GOTERA
Saudi Gazette
MANILA — The Meralco Bolts zapped the Phoenix Fuel Masters, 81-66, to formally clinch a playoff berth in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Wednesday night.
Despite a 16-day layoff, the Bolts kept their offensive fire burning while choking the Fuel Masters with their air-tight defense en route to their third straight win and seventh overall in eight games.
Baser Amer once again showed his new-found offensive tenacity by scoring a game-high 20 points on top of three assists.
Chris Newsome added 19 points, missing just one of his seven shots, to go along with his four boards, three assists, and one steal in 28 minutes.
Import Alex Stepheson added 15 markers and a team-high 20 rebounds.
The Bolts held the Fuel Masters to a dismal 32-percent shooting while forcing them to commit 17 turnovers.
Jameel Mckay led Phoenix with 16 points and 16 rebounds in 44 minutes. Cyrus Baguio was the lone local double-digit scorer for the Fuel Masters with 10 points in 29 minutes—not enough to stop Phoenix from absorbing its fifth loss in eight games.
Blackwater 104, NLEX 98
The Blackwater Elite stayed alive in the playoff race after whipping the hapless NLEX Road Warriors, 104-98, for just their second win in eight games.
Import Greg Smith and KG Canaleta jointly led the Elite with 24 points each. Smith also had a team-high 18 rebounds and seven assists. Mike Digregorio added a career-high 22 points, including four triples.
Although Blackwater is still mathematically in the running for a playoff spot, it will be a tall order as the Elite still have to face two powerhouse teams—San Miguel Beer and Barangay Ginebra—after their game against Mahindra Sunday.
With its eighth loss in as many games, NLEX was again the first team to get eliminated with still three games left in their schedule.
Kevin Alas scored 18 points and Rabeh Al-Hussaini added 17 to lead NLEX while import Wayne Chism struggled with just nine points on a woeful 4-for-20 shooting on top of his 15 rebounds. The former Best Import awardee was saddled by foul trouble early and was reported to be suffering from migraine.
The Road Warriors have now lost 11 straight games dating back to the Philippine Cup.
Games Friday: GlobalPort Batang Pier (2-5) vs. Phoenix Fuel Masters (3-5) and San Miguel Beermen (5-0) vs. TNT KaTropa Texters (5-2).
