The Meralco Bolts got back at the San Miguel Beermen, winning Game Two of the PBA Season 47 Philippine Cup semis, 99-88, to even the best-of-seven showdown up at 1-1 on Friday at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
The Bolts got a massive boost from reserve forward Raymar Jose, who scored 10 of his 13 points in the fourth canto to help Meralco pull away from the Beermen. Up by just two, 76-74, the former Cebu Eastern College big man got hot and scored 10 of the Bolts’ next 12 points to put them up by nine, 88-79.
Aaron Black, Cliff Hodge, and Chris Newsome then put the finishing touches as they helped push the lead to a high of 17 en route to getting the much-needed victory.
The victory was also a nice welcome back present for head coach Norman Black, who was back on the sidelines after spending time in the United States, grieving after the death of his mother.
Hodge had a double-double of 17 points and 14 rebounds, while Black and Allein Maliksi had 15 markers apiece. Newsome had 14 points and nine boards, while Jose chipped in 13.
Many-time league MVP June Mar Fajardo led San Miguel with 22 points and 17 rebounds.