By REYNALD MAGALLON
CJ Cansino stepped up big time in the crunch as Meralco slipped past Magnolia, 78-76, to make it three wins in a row in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup at the Snares Center in Montalban on Sunday, Oct. 19.
The sophomore guard was clutch in the endgame, delivering six of the Bolts’ last eight points to keep their heads above the water and eventually help his team complete a sweep of their hectic three-game schedule over the last six days.
Meralco improved to a 3-2 record following a 0-2 start while Magnolia absorbed its first taste of defeat under new head coach LA Tenorio for a 2-1 slate.
Cansino fired 23 points – none more resounding than the tough jumper he nailed over the outstretched arms of reigning defensive player of the year Zav Lucero to put Meralco back ahead, 73-72, with 33 seconds left and after it squandered a once 18-point advantage.
The 6-foot-2 winger also had a crucial block on Jerom Lastimosa on the next possession before proving steady from the foul line in the waning seconds to seal the win.
Cansino added six rebounds and four blocks to his line while Aaron Black had 17 points and five rebounds.
Bong Quinto chipped in 11 while Brandon Bates continued to hold the paint with seven points, 15 rebounds and three blocks for the Bolts, who also survived a bad-shooting night from main man Chris Newsome.
Newsome only finished with six points on a measly 2-of-11 clip from the field.
Hardly looking like a team that was playing for a third straight game, the Bolts actually came out firing on all cylinders to take an early 25-7 lead.
Magnolia, however, slowly but surely, chopped the lead down to a manageable deficit before back-to-back triples from Lucero put the Hotshots up ahead 72-71.
Lastimosa had a game for himself with 22 points while Lucero chipped in 14 for Magnolia. Mark Barroca scattered 11 points, 11 rebounds and five assists while Russel Escoto also had 11 in a losing effort.
San Miguel finally barged into the win column after taking down Rain or Shine, 111-93.
The Beermen notched their first win after opening their title defense with two straight defeats.
Perez put up his best game so far in the young season, firing 23 points to go with six rebounds, four assists and two steals while Lassiter contributed 18 – 12 of which he poured in the third frame when SMB began creating separation against Rain or Shine.
Limited to just three points through the first three frames, June Mar Fajardo had 14 of his total in the fourth quarter to ensure that there won’t be any ROS comeback.
He had 14 rebounds, two steals and a block while Juami Tiongson added 11 for SMB which foiled the debut of Stanley Pringle for ROS.
With the Elasto Painters keeping in step, 43-50 early in the third, Lassiter triggered the pivotal run with six straight points before Perez and Fajardo followed suit to stretch the lead to 20, 63-43.
The Beermen never looked back from there as the lead ballooned to as high as 25 in the payoff period.
Adrian Nocum paced ROS with 17 points while Gian Mamuyac and Jhonard Clarito had 16 apiece. Pringle finished with 11 after sitting out the first game of the now 1-1 ROS.
