MANILA, Philippines – In the finals of the inaugural PBA (Philippine Basketball Association) Commissioner’s Cup, Meralco defeated NLEX 97 to 94 on Sunday, quelling their fierce comeback. This puts them at 4 to 1.

However, there was little celebration for the Bolts’ triumph at PhilSports Arena in Pasig City, even for coach Luigi Trillo and game hero Chris Banchero.

Still recovering from what appeared to be an Achilles tear that forced Su Braimoh Jr. out of the game with 3:55 left, Banchero claimed in a serious and long-faced postgame press conference, “I am not certain, but it’s diligent to have any thoughts about anything right now.”

In the games leading up to Sunday, Braimoh Jr. has worked as a reliable player for Meralco, taking into account 31.5 points as well as 13 rebounds. Before he left the court, he had eight rebounds and a game-high 38 points.

Large lead blown

Meralco would have lost the game alongside more than one black eye, blowing a lead as large as 29 points, if not for Banchero’s daring permission to proceed floater with just a couple of ticks remaining and Bong Quinto’s game-winning freebie.

Meralco will only have to worry about replacing Braimoh Jr. if the import’s tests yield negative results.

Preparing for engaging in Terrafirma, the Bolts will encounter potentially dangerous NorthPort, impoverished Come together, protecting champion Barangay Ginebra, the early favorites Magnolia, and Phoenix Super LPG. This is a difficult stretch for the team as they approach the end of their elimination round schedule.

Although the Bolts have Zach Lofton as well as Prince Ibeh, imports from the East Asian Super League (EASL), at their disposal, Lofton is significantly undersized in comparison to other teams’ imports, and Ibeh was determined through the height limit.

NLEX fell to 2 to 4 after drawing 24 points apiece from Don Trollano and bringing in Stokley Chaffee Jr.