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MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – The Meralco Bolts fended off a gritty Star Hotshots in overtime, 91-88, to sweep their best-of-5 semis series and clinch the first finals berth of the 2017 PBA Governors’ Cup at Smart-Araneta Coliseum on Thursday, October 5.
Meralco held a 5-point lead with 1:21 remaining in the extra period following a Jared Dillinger trey and a Ranidel de Ocampo jumper before Star ended its scoring drought with a Rafi Reavis bucket, 85-88.
Cliff Hodge buried his only trey of the game with 18 seconds left to give the Bolts a 91-85 advantage but Mark Barroca answered quickly with his own triple to make it a one-possession game for the Hotshots, 88-91.
Star still had a chance of scoring an equalizer after Barroca stole the ball but a triple-teamed Jio Jalalon missed from downtown.
“We knew they would come out fighting, we knew they would come out with a lot of pressure. We ran through brick wall to win this basketball game. We really had to gut it out. It was a hard-fought victory for us but in the end, it is worth it to get to move on to the championship,” said Meralco coach Norman Black.
Down by 10 points, 64-54, the Hotshots ignited a 14-5 spurt thanks to Mark Barroca and Jio Jalalon and Meralco missing half of their 6 free throws to pull within one, 68-69, entering the fourth.
It was a nip-and-tuck battle in the fourth quarter that reached an 83-all deadlock with only 14 seconds remaining but both teams failed to score the go-ahead bucket as Barroca bricked a three-point attempt while Bolts import Allen Durham missed a fadeaway at the buzzer that sent the game into overtime.
Durham paced the Bolts with 24 points, 19 boards and 6 assists while Hodge chipped in 18 markers and 8 rebounds.
De Ocampo added 13 points and 7 rebounds in the win while Dillinger and Baser Amer combined for 20 markers.
Barroca almost had a triple-double for the Hotshots with 21 points, 12 boards and 8 assists.
Marc Pingris has 16 points and 6 boards in the losing effort.
The Bolts will have the opportunity of preparing for a week as they wait for the winner of the TNT-Ginebra semis clash whom they will play in Game 1 of the finals next Friday, October 13, in Lucena.
Scores:
Meralco (91): Durham 24, Hodge 18, De Ocampo 13, Amer 10, Dillinger 10, Newsome 9, Hugnatan 7, Tolomia 0, Lanete 0
Star (88): Barroca 21, Pingris 16, Jalalon 12, Ramos 8, Sangalang 8, dela Rosa 7, Reavis 6, Acox 4, Gamalinda 3, Melton 3, Simon 0
Quarter scores: 30-27, 54-43, 69-68, 83-83, 91-88. – Rappler.com
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