MANILA, Philippines – Bong Quinto shook off an injury scare and caught fire in the fourth quarter to power Meralco to a 107-91 win over Terrafirma in the PBA Governors’ Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Wednesday, August 28.
Quinto sustained a left knee contusion after slipping on his own early in the final frame, but he finished the game and scattered half of his 22 points in the period as the Bolts got back on track and improved to 2-1 in Group A.
The Dyip trimmed a deficit as big as 21 points to just two possessions with under seven minutes left, 84-90, before Quinto knocked down three straight treys in a 17-7 finishing run that sealed the deal.
His fourth-quarter explosion came in the nick of time for a Meralco side that missed the production of main man Chris Newsome, who got sidelined after spraining his left knee and left ankle in their loss to TNT a week prior.
“When someone gets injured among us, we can still execute in the game if we’re all ready to play. Anyone can score and play defense. That is the good thing about our team,” said Quinto in Filipino.
Quinto backstopped import Allen Durham, who chalked up 23 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals as the Bolts kept Terrafirma without a win.
Chris Banchero put up 17 points and 5 assists, rookie CJ Cansino chimed in 16 points and 4 rebounds, while Allein Maliksi added 12 points.
Despite a quiet scoring game with 4 points, Cliff Hodge still made his presence felt with 11 rebounds and 7 assists for the undermanned Bolts, who also played without key cogs Aaron Black and Raymond Almazan due to injuries.
Black will require surgery to repair his knee injury, while Almazan will be back soon after suffering from back spasms.
“Next man up. We’re confident in these guys,” said Meralco head coach Luigi Trillo.
Stanley Pringle produced 19 points, 6 assists, 5 rebounds, and 2 steals in the loss that dropped the hapless Dyip to 0-3.
Import Antonio Hester and rookie Paolo Hernandez fired 18 and 14 points, respectively, for Terrafirma, which saw stars Juami Tiongson and Christian Standhardinger struggle.
Standhardinger and Tiongson scored just 9 points each on a combined 5-of-21 shooting (24%).
The Scores
Meralco 107 – Durham 23, Quinto 22, Banchero 17, Cansino 16, Maliksi 12, Mendoza 5, Hodge 4, Caram 4, Torres 2, Pascual 2, Bates 0, Pasaol 0, Rios 0.
Terrafirma 91 – Pringle 19, Hester 18, Hernandez 15, Tiongson 9, Standhardinger 9, Sangalang 7, Carino 7, Carino 4, Ferrer 4, Cahilig 3, Hanapi 3, Olivario 0.
Quarters: 31-19, 56-43, 79-67, 107-91.
– Rappler.com