In a recent PBA Philippine Cup match at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City, the Meralco Bolts dominated the Magnolia Hotshots with a final score of 74-51. Leading the Bolts were Chris Newsome and Raymond Almazan, each contributing 12 points, while Chris Banchero added 11 points to the scoreboard.
The Bolts took an early lead in the first quarter, with a high of 11 points ahead of the Hotshots. Despite Magnolia’s efforts to close the gap in the second quarter, they struggled offensively and were only able to score seven points. The scoring drought continued into the third quarter, with Magnolia unable to match the Bolts’ defensive prowess.
The game marked a historic defensive performance for the Bolts, as they held Magnolia to their lowest point total in franchise history at just 51 points. This victory also marked the first time Meralco allowed an opposing team to score less than 60 points in a game.
Magnolia’s offensive struggles were evident as no player on their team reached double figures in scoring. The team collectively shot only 25% from the field, with James Laput, Aris Dionisio, and Paul Lee each contributing six points.
Following this win, Meralco improved to a 5-5 win-loss record, positioning themselves in the middle of the quarterfinal race. On the other hand, Magnolia fell to a 5-4 record after suffering their second consecutive defeat.
