Meralco Bolts’ Shonn Miller in his PBA debut. –PBA IMAGES
New import Shonn Miller provided the inside presence expected from him as Meralco downed Magnolia, 85-80, Saturday to solidify its chances of gaining the twice-to-beat advantage in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup in Iloilo City.
Miller had 33 points and 22 rebounds after replacing Zach Lofton as the Bolts moved up to a share of second place with the idle Phoenix Fuel Masters at 7-2 before a packed crowd at University of San Agustin Gym.
Chris Newsome and hometown kid Anjo Caram also keyed Meralco’s big separation in the fourth before Miller helped foil a late meltdown to deny Magnolia the outright top seed in the quarterfinals.
Magnolia ended the eliminations at 9-2 but is already assured of a twice-to-beat bonus. The Hotshots could end up at least the No. 2 seed in the playoffs depending on the outcome of the remaining games.
The victory also snapped a poor run of form the Bolts endured before and after the revelry of Christmas and New Year where they dropped three straight including two home defeats in the East Asia Super League.
Meralco got the bigger reinforcement it had been wanting since Su Braimoh went down early in the conference with an injury and the shorter Lofton having to fill up the void for three games in Miller, who is listed at 6-foot-7.
Newsome and Caram backstopped Miller by making key shots that put Meralco ahead 73-61 halfway in the fourth, before Magnolia made its run in the latter part of the grindout affair.
Magnolia got to within a point twice, the first at 77-76, but Miller’s putback and Cliff Hodge’s basket gave Meralco some cushion.
The Hotshots scored four in a row to threaten anew and had a chance to tie the game after two Newsome free throws made it 83-80. Aris Dionisio, however, couldn’t connect on a three and Newsome iced the game with two more charities.
The scores:
MERALCO 85—Miller 33, Newsome 17, Quinto 8, Caram 6, Maliksi 5, Banchero 3, Hodge 3, Rios 2, Bates 2, Black 2, Almazan 2.
MAGNOLIA 80—Bey 23, Barroca 18, Abueva 10, Jalalon 8, Eriobu 5, Lee 4, Sangalang 4, Dela Rosa 3, Mendoza 3, Laput 2, Tratter 0, Dionisio 0.
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Quarters: 20-16, 35-37, 57-58, 85-80.