Veteran swing man Allein Maliksi played the fireman’s role as he knocked in a triple in the crucial stretch of overtime to save Meralco with a 102-98 win over Blackwater in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup on 11 November at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
Maliksi’s triple from the left wing, 28 seconds left in the extra period, broke the game’s final deadlock and put the Bolts on top, 99-96
Import K.J. McDaniels survived early foul troubles and came up with a big block that foiled Barkley Ebona’s virtual easy basket, allowing the Bolts to seal the victory.
It marked Meralco’s first back-to-back victory this conference, keeping its flickering hopes alive for a playoff berth.
The Bolts had been consistent fixtures in the Final Four for the past five conferences, including two finals stints, but it has been a turbulent ride for coach Norman Black and his men, who had just won for the third time in eight games, forging a tie with NLEX at 10th spot.
The scores:
MERALCO 102 – McDaniels 26, Black 18, Bancheo 17, Maliksi 16, Quinto 12, Pasaol 6, Caram 4, Pascual 3, Almazan 0, Hodge 0
BLACKWATER 98 – Krutwig 23, Ular 15, Banal 14, Jackson 14, Ayonayon 11, Taha 8, McCarthy 7,
Melton 3, Suerte 3, Dyke 0, Sena 0, Ebona 0
QUARTERS: 21-15, 42-41, 67-64, 89-89, 102-98
