Meralco fends off Blackwater to stay in q’final race

Sports

JORDAN Varnado delivered another solid game to power the Meralco Bolts to a hard-earned 97-88 win over the Blacwater Bossing in the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup on Tuesday night, Oct. 13, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Marking his second straight game with Bolts, Varnado racked up 31 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists as the Bolts kept their quarterfinal hopes alive after moving up to fourth place in Group B with a 4-5 (win-loss) record.

Interestingly, Varnado also scored 31 points in his first game with the Bolts in which he led Meralco to a 97-88 win over the Barangay Ginebra Kings last Aug. 14.

Varnado’s solid outing wasn’t enough for Meralco to pull as it still needed the endgame heroics of Chris Newsome to avert a huge meltdown.

Meralco led by as many as 20 points and took a 97-86 lead going into the fourth quarter. Blackwater, however, stormed back and seized a 113-111 lead on a tough layup by Sedrick Barefield with 1:44 left.

Newsome saved Meralco’s day, scoring on a layup while being fouled. The reliable guard converted the three-point play and Meralco would never trail again.

Newsome finished with 24 points, six rebounds, three 3 assists, a steal, and a block.

Barefield finished with 31 points and Kentrell Barkley tallied 29 markers but Blackwater slipped to 3-5.

THE SCORES:

MERALCO (120) - Varnado 31, Newsome 24, Quinto 15, Hodge 12, Brickman 10, Mocon 9, Bates 7, Banchero 6, Cansino 6, Almazan 0.

BLACKWATER (115) - Barefield 31, Barkley 29, Ilagan 15, Panopio 10, Una 9, Tratter 7, David 5, DiGregorio 3, Escoto 3, Murrell 3, Demusis 0, Austria 0, Cruz-Dumont 0, Mallillin 0.QUARTERSCORES: 32-36, 68-58, 97-86, 120-115.(CCM)