Meralco banked on a strong second half and withstood a Kia run to tale a 90-80 win at the resumption of the PBA Commissioner's Cup at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.
The Carnival seemed to be halfway from pulling off an upset against the Bolts as the P.J. Ramos-led squad went up, 38-36, at halftime.
The Bolts, however, rallied in the third quarter and led by as much as 14, 62-48.
Kia still put up a fight and came to within one, 68-69, midway through the fourth.
But Meralco closed out with an endgame rally to stay unbeaten after two games.
Gary David led the Bolts with 25 points.
Ramos, in another losing effort by the Carnival, finished with 34 markers.
Meralco 90-David 25, Davis 19, Reyes 16, Anthony 6, Ildefonso 6, Hugnatan 6, Hodge 4, Wilson 4, Ferriols 4, Atkins 0, Macapagal 0
Kia 80-Ramos 34, Buensuceso 11, Poligrates 6, Webb 6, Cawaling 5, Yee 5, Pascual 4, Ighalo 4, Revilla 3, Burtscher 2, Thiele 0, Padilla 0, Alvarez 0, Cervantes 0
Quarterscores: 12-18; 36-38; 62-56; 90-80
The Bolts, however, rallied in the third quarter and led by as much as 14, 62-48.
Kia still put up a fight and came to within one, 68-69, midway through the fourth.
But Meralco closed out with an endgame rally to stay unbeaten after two games.
Gary David led the Bolts with 25 points.
Ramos, in another losing effort by the Carnival, finished with 34 markers.
Meralco 90-David 25, Davis 19, Reyes 16, Anthony 6, Ildefonso 6, Hugnatan 6, Hodge 4, Wilson 4, Ferriols 4, Atkins 0, Macapagal 0
Kia 80-Ramos 34, Buensuceso 11, Poligrates 6, Webb 6, Cawaling 5, Yee 5, Pascual 4, Ighalo 4, Revilla 3, Burtscher 2, Thiele 0, Padilla 0, Alvarez 0, Cervantes 0
Quarterscores: 12-18; 36-38; 62-56; 90-80