Coach Norman Black is confident that they will surely bounce back, after they fell to San Miguel Beermen on Saturday. 

Game preview

Chris Newsome though got his energy back, as a whole; the effort was not enough to overpass the Bolts on the semis game five. The Bolts key man hit his lowest output from the previous match with 24 points on a 56-percent clip, 6 rebounds and 4 assists.

Coach Norman shares, “He scored better tonight and I thought he was more aggressive offensively tonight than he was last game. He did have a few turnovers but that is part of the game,”

“Hopefully, he can continue to do that in Game Six and other guys can step up,” he added.

Aaron Black and Allein Maliksi failed to display their usual gun slinging performance when they scored just six points on eleven attempts. In total, he collected a team-high 11 rebounds and four dimes.

On the other hand the senior swingman made 12 points, which scored beyond the arc. He made three in a row that helped the Bolts take a 44-41 halftime lead. 

Maliksi, who grabbed down seven rebounds, committed five personal fouls, a factor that affected his overall performance.

That second half proved a monstrous night for Meralco with 12 points scored in the third, which allowed San Miguel Beermen to take advantage of the game.

The Bolts will not give up just like that

During the fourth quarter, the Bolts showed a fight back that cut them a 15 point gap to just two behind the fourth trey of Maliksi. Yet, their opponents kept them behind Cruz and Brondial. 

Their big men also did not do much help as effectively as the Game Four. Hodge contributed only 12 points after an 18-point. Almazan had eight markers to his name after dropping 17.

“My bigs were not able to make the same plays they made last game,” Coach Norman said.

Standing

Meralco is now in a dreadful situation with a 3-2 shortfall in the best of seven series. 

San Miguel Beermen and TNT Tropang Giga are both twice to beat in the quarterfinals.

Magnolia Hotshots, Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, Meralco Bolts and NLEX Warriors – best of three quarterfinals.

Up Next

San Miguel vs Meralco on Sunday August 14. (Semi-Finals)