MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – Meralco didn’t show the also-ran Blackwater any mercy as it breezed through a 102-75 rout to notch a quarterfinals spot in the 2018 PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Mall of Asia Arena on Friday, June 15. 

Arinze Onuaku frolicked in the paint with 17 points, 16 rebounds and two blocks to lead 4 other players in double figures for the Bolts, who became just the 4th team to secure a playoff berth after improving to 6-2. 

The Bolts led by just 9 points after the first quarter, 24-15, before breaking the game wide open by outscoring the Elite by 20 points in the second period for a comfortable 59-30 cushion heading into halftime. 

Blackwater’s misery didn’t end there as Meralco kept its foot on the pedal and extended its lead to as much as 41 points in the final frame after a Mac Baracael jumper. 

Anjo Caram backstopped Onuaku with 13 points, with 8 coming in the crucial second quarter alone, and Cliff Hodge and Jared Dillinger chipped in 12 and 11 markers, respectively, for Meralco, which won its 3rd straight game. 

KG Canaleta added 10 points while Chris Newsome, although scoring just 4 points, filled up the stats sheet in the other departments with 6 rebounds, 6 assists and two steals to finish with a plus-minus of +30 in the win. 

“I thought my guys played with a sense of urgency tonight as far as this having to be a must-win situation for us, especially with the three games coming up in our schedule,” said Meralco head coach Norman Black.

“We still play Alaska, we still play Talk ‘N Text and we still play Rain or Shine so we really want to come out and establish our defense right from the start of the game.”

Meralco, which joined Rain or Shine, Alaska and TNT as the only teams who clinched a playoffs spot, shot an impressive 50% from the field all the while limiting Blackwater to a 35% clip. 

The Bolts had 15 more rebounds and doubled the Elite’s assist output with 24 dishes. 

The Elite, powered by Henry Walker’s 14 points, 13 rebounds, and 6 assists, fell to a 1-9 card. 

Allein Maliksi and Roi Sumang were the only other Blackwater players in double figures with 12 and 10 points, respectively. 

The Scores:

Meralco (102): Onuaku 17, Caram 13, Hodge 12, Dillinger 11, Canaleta 10, Amer 9, Hugnatan 6, Tolomia 6, Newsome 4, De Ocampo 3, Sedurifa 3, Baracael 2, Salva 2, Bono 0, Lanete 0.

Blackwater (75): Walker 14, Maliksi 12, Zamar 11, Sumang 10, DiGregorio 8, Al-Hussaini 7, Erram 4, Banal 2, Jose 2, Pinto 2, Sena 2, Palma 1, Cortez 0, Cruz 0, Javier 0.

Quarters: 24-15, 59-30, 79-47, 102-75.

– Rappler.com