Gary David catches fire as Meralco ends season fighting

David led the charge for the Bolts’ last game of the 39th season of the Philippine Basketball Association’s (PBA), ending Governors’ Cup at 9th place with a 3-6 win-loss record.

It has been a deplorable conference for Meralco as they never really found the rhythm and form they once sported during the mid-season Commissioner’s Cup, which allowed them to at least enter the playoffs and finish at 7th place with a 6-6 slate.

Still, Meralco managed to go out in style and on a positive note, clobbering a hapless Globalport in this game by way of a huge third quarter rally that the Batang Pier would never overcome. 

Meralco came out strong right away with a 34-15 first period assault before the Batang Pier clawed back in the second half and inched to within 66-61 on a Terrence Romeo basket at the 7:55 mark of the third. 

However, the Bolts exploded for a 17-4 rampage right after that, relying on buckets from various Meralco players, which was capped off by Jason Ballesteros who scored two points to build an 83-65 advantage nearing the end of that canto.

It was another successful out-of-town game for the Bolts, who had dismantled the San Miguel Beermen at Cagayan de Oro exactly one week ago.

Meralco import Mario West finished with a triple-double of 30 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists in the Bolts’ offensive explosion.

Globalport, led by import Dior Lowhorn’s 28 points together with Jay Washington’s 21, ended another disappointing season, registering only one win and piling up 8 losses this conference.

The Batang Pier finished with a similar win-loss record in the previous Commissioner’s Cup, making that a 2-16 record for head coach Pido Jarencio in his first two conferences as head coach of the team.

Globalport had a strong start to the season, barging into the playoffs before bowing out against the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters and finishing 7th place with a 5-10 record. – Rappler.com