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The Meralco Bolts prevented an end of season collapse by Barangay Ginebra San Miguel when they managed an 83-80 act of escape on Wednesday May 25th. November to force a Do-or-Die Game 5 in their PBA Philippine Cup semi-final series.
The timeless Reynel Hugnatan turned the clock further back in the league bubble as he buried the starting gun in the final seconds before Raymond Almazan sealed it with a game-winning block.
With the thrilling victory, the Bolts’ search for their very first appearance in the conference finals is still alive, while the Gin Kings are trying to return to the biggest stage for the first time in three years.
Hugnatan let a conference high of 19 points, 12 in the 4th. , falling off the bench to go with 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and a 3-of-4 clip out of three.
The usual top scorer Cliff Hodge and Chris Newsome also did their part, scoring 16 points each.
« I’m sure the players are very, very happy to have the chance to get into Game 5 and advance to the final, » said head coach Norman Black.
« Of course, beating her in Game 5 will be a tough task against Ginebra, but at the same time we just have to go back and watch the game to see what it takes to get the job done. ”
After a few last minute misses, the Bolts had another break at 20 after a botched Ginebra inbound game. Another tick, with which Hugnatan calmly sunk a starting shot for the 81-80 lead.
Scottie Thompson and Stanley Pringle closed under the buckets after a break for a nice cut and short stab, but Almazan was right there to win the block.
Almazan, who struggled with injuries throughout the conference, received 11 points, 3 rebounds and of course a crucial block to seal the deal in Game 4.
At the beginning of the 3rd. Quarterly a lead of 46:31 and suddenly fell apart at the seams of the defense. Ginebra launched a massive 20-4 attack from that 15 point hole to get a 51-50 advantage after a Jared Dillinger triple at 4:17.
Prince Caperal even extended the lead to 6, 64-58 after a triple in the waning seconds of 3. before the bolts got their bearings again. Both teams swapped buckets to the wire in the last frame.
After a quiet first three quarters, Japeth Aguilar came alive in the clutch, giving Ginebra the lead one last time, 80-79, after a short-distance jumper in the final 1:25 of regulation.
Hugnatan and Alone Maliksi searched for possible starting blades, but their shots fell off in the waning seconds, resulting in Almazan’s game-winning stop.
Ginebra top cannon Stanley Pringle had lost 18 points, followed by Dillinger’s 15 markers from the bank.
Meralco 83 – Hugnatan 19, Hodge 16, Newsome 16, Almazan 11, Maliksi 8, Amer 4, Pinto 3, Black 2, Quinto 2, Jamito 2, Jackson 0, Caram 0.
Ginebra 80 – Pringle 18, Dillinger 15, Thompson 13, Aguilar 12, Tenorio 8, Caperal 8, Mariano 6, Tolentino 0, Devance 0.
Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, Meralco Bolts, Philippine Basketball Association, Philippine PBA Cup, Reynel Hugnatan, Raymond Almazan
World News – USA – Meralco bucks meltdown, survives Ginebra for do-or – to die
Ref: https://www.rappler.com
