The Meralco Bolts improved to number three in the standing after they dismantled the San Miguel Beermen, 125-99.
Allen Durham paced the Bolts with his triple-double performance at the same help contain the Beermen’s five-time MVP June Mar Fajardo.
Durham delivered 29 points, 15 rebounds, and 11 assists and was named as the Best Player of the Game.
Baser Amer also had a sterling game with his 26 points, seven rebounds, and five dimes while Raymond Almazan got 12 points and nine rebounds. Almazan was starring on one of the highlights of the match after he posterized Arwind Santos.
Newly minted Bolts’ player Allein Maliksi scored 12 points along with his five rebounds in his Meralco debut. Maliksi is one of the players who sparked the squad coached by Norman Black in the first half.
It was a physical game between squads as bodies seem like flying because of their intense defense.
SMB import Dez Wells tweaked his ankle in the second quarter while June Mar Fajardo had a bloody face.
Wells tried to return in the game but in the second half, Beermen head coach Leo Austria decided to keep him on the sideline.
Without San Miguel’s high scoring import Meralco took advantage of the situation where they unleashed a scoring onslaught in the remaining quarters.
The Beermen eventually absorbed its back-to-back defeats and now at the number five in the 2019 PBA Governors’ Cup standings.
Outside the top-four, the other half of the top-eight will have a twice-to-win disadvantage when quarterfinals arrive.
June Mar Fajardo tried to carry his team but his 31 points and 13 rebounds weren’t enough to stop another loss.
Wells managed to score 18 points before he got pulled out from the game.
Raymond Almazan With His Bastos Jam Against Arwind Santos
Meralco vs San Miguel Box Score
Bolts (125) – Newsome 14, Amer 26, Almazan 12, Durham 29, Quinto 7, Faundo 10, Maliksi 12, Caram 6, Hugnatan 3, Jamito 6
Beermen (99) – Ross 5, Fajardo 31, Cabagnot 12, Wells 18, Romeo 8, Lassiter 8, Santos 2, Nabong 3, Pessumal 9, Zamar 3