MERALCO grabbed crucial offensive rebounds that helped fuel a key run in the homestretch as the Bolts stayed unbeaten in drubbing the Barangay Ginebra Kings, 101-95, in the PBA Governors' Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Sunday.
The Bolts came through with a 10-2 attack from an 89-all count and went on to make it 2-of-2 in the tournament restart to catch up with the Magnolia Hotshots in the lead at 4-0.
The Kings, meanwhile, suffered back-to-back losses and dropped to 3-2 overall.
Tony Bishop was his usual prolific self, Chris Newsome and Allein Maliksi provided big help, and Chris Banchero made his presence felt in his first outing in a Meralco jersey.
Aaron Black and Cliff Hodge also played key roles as the Bolts worked hard together to hand the Gin Kings a second straight loss after their setback against the Hotshots in their Christmas Day Manila Clasico duel.
Meralco coach Norman Black acknowledged the great foundation provided by Bishop, and the Bolts' import, for his part, pointed out the fight they put up as a team.
"We're together, we're playing hard on both ends of the floor, and that's what you do to win games," said Bishop.
"We stayed together, we fight adversity together and we fight hard for every possession, and we're being smart on defense," he added.
The do-it-all import collected 30 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists in another near triple-double game, with Newsome, Maliksi and Banchero adding at least 11 points apiece.
Even then, the Bolts had to gut it out, needing a key run at endgame to get by the Kings.
Newsome grabbed a crucial offensive rebound that set up Maliksi for a trey, capping their 10-2 salvo that gave the Bolts a 99-91 lead entering the final minute of the contest.
Newsome finished with 12 points on top of seven assists and five rebounds while Maliksi wound up with 11 with 3-of-5 three-pointers.
Banchero had 12 markers, four rebounds and three assists in his Meralco debut. (SB)
The Scores:
Meralco 101 - Bishop 30, Newsome 12, Banchero 12, Maliksi 11, Almazan 8, Quinto 8, Hodge 8, Black 6, Caram 4, Hugnatan 2.
Ginebra 95 - Brownlee 27, Thompson 18, Standhardinger 17, Aguilar 10, Tenorio 10, Tolentino 5, Chan 3, Pinto 2, Caperal 3.
Quarters: 29-22, 45-46, 79-76, 101-95
