By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
THEY were challenge big time but in the end there was no stopping the Meralco Bolts from returning to the finals of the Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup after defeating the Star Hotshots, 91-88, in overtime in Game Three last night to complete a sweep of their best-of-five semifinal series.
Best-of-5 / Semis Game 2: TNT KaTropa defeated Barangay Ginebra, 103-96 to tie the series at 1-1 in the 2017 PBA Governors’ Cup semifinal on Wednesday night at the Batangas City Coliseum.
By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
THE Blackwater Elite are back in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) playoffs for the first time after a four-conference absence and they are making the most it, forcing a sudden death with the Meralco Bolts in their quarterfinal pairing after overcoming their first hurdle, 92-91, yesterday.
Facing a twice-to-win handicap against top seed Meralco in the quarterfinals, eighth-seeded Blackwater fashioned out a surprise with a gutsy win that extended its season and sent its affair with the Bolts to a do-or-die on Thursday.
By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
FASHIONED out a gutsy come-from-behind victory in their Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Governors’ Cup best-of-five semifinal series opener on Sunday, the Meralco Bolts shoot for a commanding 2-0 lead over the Star Hotshots when they reengage for Game Two today in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.
Meralco Bolts wrapped up the elimination phase with a 104-101 upset of the San Miguel Beer in the 2017 PBA Governors’ Cup at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum on Sunday night.
The huge stunner handed the twice-to-beat Bolts the top spot with a 9-2 card, setting up a quarterfinals match with Blackwater. SMB, on the other hand, fell out of the top four and will head into the next round with a twice-to-win disadvantage against third-seeded Ginebra.
Meralco Bolts made big baskets down the stretch to stave off the Blackwater Elite, 104-96, in their 2017 PBA Governors’ Cup do-or-die quarterfinals match, at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum Thursday night.
Young guards Baser Amer and Garvo Lanete conspired to keep Meralco afloat early in the payoff period, before Allen Durham and Jared Dillinger took over in the final six minutes, hitting clutch shot after another to take out the Elite and set up semifinal date with the Star Hotshots.
ALREADY assured of spots in the quarterfinals (QF) of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Governors’ Cup, the Meralco Bolts and Star Hotshots look to put themselves in better positions in the playoffs when they return to the floor today against also-ran opponents.
The Bolts (7-2), in solo second spot at the moment, try to fortify their position in the top four, where a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarters awaits, when they collide against GlobalPort Batang Pier (3-7) in the 7 p.m. main game at the Mall of Asia Arena.
By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
THE TNT KaTropa and Rain or Shine Elasto Painters go at it for the last time this season as they settle once and for all who between them get to secure a semifinal spot in their quarterfinal pairing in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Governors’ Cup.
Failed to advance outright in their first try on Wednesday, the KaTropa now use their second attempt from a twice-to-beat incentive they got for finishing in the top four in the elimination round as they collide anew with the E-Painters in the lone quarterfinal game today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
WITH the race for the top four spots and the twice-to-beat advantage that goes with it in the quarterfinals of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Governors’ Cup heating up as the elimination round hits the homestretch, the San Miguel Beermen are eyeing to throw themselves in the mix when they take the floor today against the already-eliminated Phoenix Petroleum Fuel Masters.
