The Meralco Bolts survived a troublesome extra time conflict in opposition to the TNT Tropang Giga, 124-117, to equalize of their best-of-five semifinal sequence within the PBA Governors’ Cup on Sunday on the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
Meralco, which misplaced Game 1 by 30 factors, 110-80, bounced again on this one as they tied the sequence, 1-1.
Import KJ McDaniels, restricted to only 12 factors within the sequence opener, exploded for 39 factors in Game 2, together with some key baskets late in regulation. He additionally contributed 20 rebounds, 4 assists, three steals, and three blocks.
Aaron Black, in the meantime, led the locals with 28 factors on 12-of-19 capturing, together with six essential factors in OT, alongside 10 assists.
Meralco held a double-digit halftime lead, 59-49, however noticed the benefit wiped away in a giant third quarter from TNT because of some sizzling capturing from Mikey Williams, who scored 17 of his staff’s 37 factors within the interval. The two groups entered the fourth quarter tied at 86-apiece.
The Bolts obtained a pair of big buckets from McDaniels late within the fourth, giving them a 112-109 lead late however his TNT counterpart, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, stored TNT’s hopes alive as he drew some late fouls.
Hollis-Jefferson obtained the primary whistle whereas capturing a 3, however may solely knock down two of his three free throw makes an attempt because the Tropang Giga got here again to inside one, 112-111, with 21.5 ticks left on the clock. After an important cease on the opposite finish, the TNT import had a chance to offer his staff again the lead however a cut up from the road was the perfect he may do, and that despatched the 2 groups to an additional 5 minutes to resolve the sport.
But within the additional interval, it was Black who took over, scoring six unanswered factors as a part of an 8-0 blast that gave Meralco a 122-114 benefit with 2:14 remaining earlier than cruising to the win.
Williams led TNT with a team-high 29 factors, together with six three-pointers, whereas Hollis-Jefferson posted 27 factors, 15 boards, and 9 assists within the loss.
The two groups will look to interrupt the their impasse on Wednesday for the essential Game 3.
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
