In a stunning defensive performance, Meralco surged past Magnolia with a resounding 74-51 victory, reclaiming a spot in the top eight of the PBA Philippine Cup standings. The Bolts’ stifling defense disrupted the Hotshots’ usual smooth offense, holding them to their lowest franchise scoring output.
Led by Raymond Almazan’s 12 points and 11 rebounds, Meralco’s defensive efforts were on full display as they limited Magnolia’s scoring opportunities. With key players like Jio Jalalon and Calvin Abueva sidelined due to injuries, the Hotshots struggled to find their offensive rhythm throughout the game.
Meralco coach Luigi Trillo commended his team for their defensive intensity and credited their victory to a collective effort on both ends of the court. With this win, the Bolts now hold a 5-5 record and have displaced NorthPort from the eighth spot in the standings.
Meanwhile, San Miguel Beer solidified their hold on the number one seed with a dominant 120-103 win over NLEX. Led by June Mar Fajardo’s double-double performance and CJ Perez’s 30-point outing, SMB moved closer to completing an undefeated elimination round.
NLEX, playing without Robert Bolick who was attending to his family, fell to their third straight loss and now sit at a 5-4 record. With the race for playoff seeding heating up, teams are jockeying for position with the quarterfinals on the horizon.
