Game recap (adapted from Interkasyon):
MERALCO BOLTS over NLEX ROAD WARRIORS, 97-82
Box scores.
Meralco reserve Mark Macapagal erupted for 22 points, including five three-pointers, as he helped his Bolts draw first blood in their PBA Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals series against NLEX, 97-82, on Friday at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.
Meralco took a 1-0 lead over NLEX in their best-of-three series, with the winner advancing into the semifinals opposite the winner of the series between No. 1 Rain or Shine and eighth seed Barangay Ginebra.
Macapagal shot 6-for-11 from the field and 5-for-10 from beyond the arc. He also shot 5-for-7 from the free throw line as he led the Bolts in scoring despite playing in just 19 minutes for the game.
Import Josh Davis had 16 points and 21 big rebounds, while four other locals reached double figures in the balanced team effort for Meralco.
Meralco led by as many as 22 points in the fourth quarter as they left NLEX far behind.
Al Thornton paced NLEX with 23 points and 11 rebounds. Mac Cardona and Jonas Villanueva backstopped him with 17 and 13 markers respectively.
Line of the Game: Josh Davis (MER) - 16pts, 21rebs, 3asts, 2stls, 1blk, 7/12 FGs.
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| Mark Macapagal caught fire at a great time to give Meralco a 1-0 series lead. |
PUREFOODS STAR HOTSHOTS over ALASKA ACES, 120-86
Box scores.
The Purefoods Star Hotshots were simply merciless in a lopsided 120-86 beatdown of underdog Alaska to kick off its best-of-three quarterfinal series on Friday at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.
Denzel Bowles finished with 20 points and 8 rebounds in under 23 minutes of play, while ‘Big Game’ James Yap scored 18 – nine of them in the third quarter – as they led the Purefoods rout.
PJ simon had 13 points, Marc Pingris added 11, and Joe Devance had a balanced showing with 10 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists.
With the victory, the No. 3 seed Purefoods moved to within a win of advancing to the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals.
Purefoods made its intentions clear from the opening tip. Devance hit back-to-back three-pointers to set the tone for a period in which the Hotshots utterly overmatched Alaska, 31-7.
Damion James led Alaska with 21 points and 10 boards, while RJ Jazul and Vic Manuel paired up for 22 markers.
Line of the Game: Damion James (ALA) - 21pts, 10rebs, 1ast, 1stl.
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| James Yap and the rest of the Hotshots are now 1 game up on th Aces. |
Images by Nuki Sabio/PBA.
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