Meralco cracked the winning column in the PBA Philippine Cup with a 93-81 rout of Alaska at the Angeles University Foundation in Pampanga on Wednesday, October 14.

Baser Amer came up big in the last quarter and finished with 15 points as the Bolts improved to 1-1 after dropping their conference opener.

Amer went on a personal 8-0 run in the middle of the final frame to hand his team an 85-68 lead, an advantage that proved too big for the Aces – who remained winless in two games – to overcome.

Alaska had Meralco on its feet after cutting its deficit to 68-77 off a Jeron Teng layup with 7 minutes left before Amer knocked down two three-pointers and a floater in successive fashion.

Allein Maliksi led the Bolts in scoring with 17 points on 6-of-9 shooting off the bench, Reynel Hugnatan had 13 points and 8 rebounds, while Cliff Hodge added 11 points and 2 blocks.

Meralco head coach Norman Black got quality minutes from his son, rookie Aaron Black, who contributed 8 points in 10 minutes.

Black hit two free throws and a three-pointer early in the last period that padded the Bolts’ lead to 18 points, 76-58.

“He is getting experienced on the fly,” the older Black said of his son. “I did not play him very much in the first half. I gave him a longer run in the second half.”

Teng led the Aces with 25 points on a healthy 9-of-11 clip to go with 7 rebounds as his teammates struggled offensively.

Vic Manuel turned out the only other Alaska player in double figures with 18 points and 2 steals.

The Scores

Meralco 93 – Maliksi 17, Amer 15, Hugnatan 13, Hodge 11, Black 8, Faundo 2, Jose 6, Quinto 5, Newsome 6, Almazan 5, Pinto 5.

Alaska 81 – Teng 25, Manuel 18, Herndon 8, Publico 8, Tratter 6, Brondial 5, DiGregorio 6, Galliguez 3, Ayaay 2, Andrada 0, Casio 0, Ebona 0.

Quarters : 29-23, 49-35, 65-58, 93-81.

– Rappler.com