By REYNALD MAGALLON
Bong Quinto shrugged off an injury scare to his left knee and spearheaded Meralco past Terrafirma, 107-91 to get back on the winning track in the Group A of the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Wednesday, Aug. 28.
Quinto was down for a count at the 10-minute mark of the final frame but managed to return to the game and even drilled three-straight triples to create the much-needed separation and away from the reach of the rallying Dyip.
The Bolts improved to a 2-1 record and got a share of the lead with the Converge FiberXers and the TNT Tropang Giga.
Quinto fired 22 points – 11 of which he poured after he hurted his left knee after slipping to a wet spot under the Terrafirma’s goal – spiked by four triples. Import Allen Durham led the way with 23 points and 12 rebounds as the Bolts led by as many as 21 points in the final frame.
Chris Banchero added 17 points while CJ Cansino added 16 points, built on four triples.
Allein Maliksi also made his presence felt on his first game with 12 points, a much-needed boost for the Bolts who were missing the services of some of its key players in Aaron black, Chris Newsome and Raymond Almazan.
Meralco, coming off a tough loss to TNT, came out firing in the first half and built on a 16-point lead but Terrafirma threatened in the fourth quarter when it cut the lead down to just six, 90-84, halfway through the frame.
Quinto, who was reinserted into the game, however, spearheaded a telling 17-7 run to end the game.
Stanley Pringle paced the Dyip anew with 19 points, six assists and five rebounds while import Antonio Hester added 18. Paolo Hernandez, who led the fourth quarter comeback effort, finished with 15 built on four triples.
Christian Standhardinger and Juami Tiongson only had nine apiece as Terrafirma slid to 0-3 record.
