Meralco Bolts Defeat Rain or Shine 121-111 in PBA Showdown

Strong Start Propels Meralco Bolts to Victory

In an intense matchup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo, the Meralco Bolts secured a 121-111 victory over the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters. Despite losing both teams’ imports early, Meralco’s cohesive effort proved decisive, maintaining their unbeaten run in the conference.

Rain or Shine Faces Setback Without Deon Thompson

Rain or Shine entered the game without import Deon Thompson, who was sidelined due to unresolved work permit issues. This absence transformed the contest into an all-Filipino showdown, intensifying the competitive atmosphere.

Akil Mitchell’s Early Exit Challenges Meralco

Meralco encountered a major hurdle when Akil Mitchell sustained a broken nose seconds into the game after colliding with Keith Datu. The Bolts lost their reinforcement but found inspiration in adversity.

Luigi Trillo Applauds Team’s Resilience

Meralco head coach Luigi Trillo praised his team for stepping up in the absence of their import. “I’m really proud of the guys. Losing our import could’ve been a major setback, but players like Norbert Torres, Chris Newsome, and Bong Quinto delivered when it mattered,” said Trillo.

Meralco’s Balanced Attack Secures Win

Chris Newsome led the Bolts with 25 points, while Bong Quinto added 20 points and earned Player of the Game honors. Contributions from Norbert Torres, Jansen Rios, and Raymond Almazan (12 points, 16 rebounds) solidified Meralco’s dominance.

Rain or Shine’s Late Rally Falls Short

The Elasto Painters narrowed the gap to 116-111 late in the fourth quarter after a triple by Andrei Caracut. However, missed free throws and turnovers prevented them from completing the comeback.

Key Stats Highlight Meralco’s Edge

Meralco’s execution at critical moments and Rain or Shine’s struggles at the free-throw line (19/31 conversions) were decisive factors in the final result.

Conference Standings After the Match

With this victory, the Meralco Bolts improved to 2-0 in the conference, positioning themselves as early contenders for the title. Meanwhile, Rain or Shine started their campaign at 0-1, leaving room for improvement in upcoming games.

Game Summary

Final Score: Meralco 121, Rain or Shine 111

Top Performers:

• Meralco: Chris Newsome (25 points), Bong Quinto (20 points), Raymond Almazan (12 points, 16 rebounds)

• Rain or Shine: Keith Datu (17 points), Rence Nocum (15 points)

Quarter Scores: 33-25, 52-49, 89-81, 121-111

Meralco’s teamwork and resilience highlighted their championship potential, while Rain or Shine must regroup to bounce back. With the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup underway, both teams aim to make their mark in the weeks ahead.

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