Meralco leans on Braimoh, Banchero to beat TNT

By Robert Andaya

MERALCO Bolts celebrated the return of Chris Banchero to the line-up with an emphatic 109-95 victory over TNT Tropang Giga in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.

Banchero, who missed the first  three games due to a hamstring injury, came through with 18 points, four assists and two rebounds as he teamed-up with import Suleiman Braimohin leading the Bolts to their third in four matches.

“I’m glad we got the win. That was a big win for us against  a very tough team,”said Banchero, who was responsible in Meralco’s  decisive 12-1 run that turned a precarious   91-89 lead into a 103-90 cushion.

Banchero had a lot of help from Braimoh, who had another stellar performance with 37 points on 15-of-30 shooting, 10 rebounds, three steals, and two blocks in 37 minutes on the floor for Meralco coah Luigi Trillo.

Bong Quinto added 13 points, and  Cliff Hodge and Chris Newsome chipped in 12 points each for the Bolts, who  bounced back after their  83-93 loss to San Miguel Beer  last  Nov 19.

With Braimoh and Banchero leading the way, Meralso also spoiled the huge  47-point, 12-rebound efforts of TNTimport Rondae Hollis-Jefferson.

Despite Hollis-Jefferson’s tournament-high in points, TNT came up empty-handed as only Jayson Castro managed to score in double figures with 18 points.

Glen Khobuntin emerged as the third-highest scorer for the Tropang Giga with eight points.

Calvin Oftana struggled mightily for TNT, managing only four points on 2-of-11 shooting, including 0-of-5 from beyond the arc.

The scores:

Meralco (109) – Braimoh 37, Banchero 18, Quinto 13, Hodge 12, Newsome 12, Dario 6, Almazan 6, Bates 0Caram 5, Rios 0.

TNT (95) – Hollis-Jefferson 47, Castro 19, Khobuntin 8, K.Williams 5, Reyes 5, Oftana 4, Montalbo 3, Galinato 2, Heruela 2, Ponferrada 0, Tungcab 0, Tolomia 0.

Quarterscores: 29-21, 52-42, 80-70, 109-95