NLEX leaned on a
curious-looking Asi Taulava to beat Blackwater, while Meralco bounced back by handing
Ginebra another big setback in the 2014-2015 PBA Philippine Cup.
 |
| Asi Taulava rocked the Ynares Center with a pair of... low-cut CHUCKS!!! |
Game Capsules (adapted
from InterAKTV):
NLEX ROAD WARRIORS over BLACKWATER ELITE,
104-84
The NLEX Road Warriors,
behind another vintage performance from ageless star center Asi Taulava,
cruised past old PBA D-League rival Blackwater, 104-84, to end a three-game
losing skid. Taulava scored 24 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and dished out 5
assists in a strong performance for NLEX, which improved to 3-4. He also shot
8-for-11 from the field and 8-for-11 from the free throw line. Mac Cardona
added 21 points, 16 in the first half, along with seven boards and five assists
for the Road Warriors, while three other NLEX players finished in double
figures. Villanueva scored 17 points while Aldrech Ramos, who completed a rare
four-point play in the fourth quarter, added 16. Mark Borboran finished with
10. Blackwater (0-8) was led by Ogie Menor, who scored 15.
Line of the Game: Asi Taulava - 24 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 8/11 FGs.
 |
| Asi Taulava was hardly stoppable against the overmatched Elite. |
 |
| Mac Cardona was brilliant in the first half as NLEX built a big lead. |
 |
| Ogie Menor is still sporting that hairdo. Yes, THAT lizard hairdo! |
MERALCO BOLTS over BGY.
GINEBRA GIN KINGS, 109-99
The Meralco Bolts came up
with big shots down the stretch as it held off comebacking Barangay Ginebra,
109-99, in Antipolo City. Meralco, now at 4-3, once again bounced back strong
following a blowout loss. They followed up a 41-point loss to Alaska with a
strong showing against NLEX a few weeks ago and once again responded to a
lopsided defeat after falling to Rain or Shine, 107-79, last week. Ginebra was
able to cut Meralco’s nine-point lead down to just four, 103-99, with two
minutes left to play, but veteran Reynel Hugnatan hit a clutch jumper from the
baseline inside the final minute and the Bolts defense proved steady late as
Meralco escaped with the win and improved to 4-3. Cliff Hodge and Mark
Macapagal led the way with 18 points apiece, combining to shoot 7-for-10 from
three-point range. Gary David and Jared Dillinger added 16 and 15 points,
respectively, while Hugnatan finished with 12 points and eight rebounds. On the
other end, Ginebra was paced by the 26 points and 13 rebounds of Greg
Slaughter, while Japeth Aguilar registered 18 and 7. Despite having the
advantage in rebounds, the Gin Kings just couldn’t contain the Bolts’ hot
shooting.
Line of the Game: Greg Slaughter - 26 points, 13 rebounds, 7/13 FGs.
 |
| Cliff Hodge was an athletic beast on the boards and from downtown. |
 |
| Jared Dillinger helped lead Meralco past the sinking Gin Kings. |
 |
| Mark Caguioa joined the 9,000-point club in the PBA. |
All images by Nuki Sabio/PBA.
0 Comment