Meralco comes back from 20 down to complete Final Four

By Ivan Saldajeno

QUEZON CITY--Meralco made a furious rally from a 20-point deficit before eliminating NLEX in overtime, 91-85, to end the PBA Commissioner's Cup quarterfinals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Sunday night.

The Bolts trailed the Road Warriors, 46-66, late in the third quarter but rallied in the rest of the regulation and forced the extra time on a Gary David layup.

David then opened the extension with another layup before Asi Taulava put the Road Warriors up with a three-point play.

That turned out to be NLEX's last hurrah as Meralco finished the game with seven straight points.

David sizzled for 31 points for the Bolts, who became the fourth and the last semifinalists in the Commissioner's Cup. They will take on the Rain Or Shine Elasto Painters on Tuesday.

Al Thornton led the Road Warriors, who ended their Commissioner's Cup campaign with three straight losses following a five-game winning streak, with 3 markers.

Box Scores:

Meralco 91-David 31, Davis 25, Hugnatan 17, Hodge 6, Cortez 4, Ferriols 4, Ildefonso 2, Caram 2, Reyes 0, Wilson 0, Anthony 0, Macapagal 0

NLEX 85-Thornton 32, Raymundo 12, Villanueva J. 12, Taulava 10, Cardona 6, Villanueva E. 4, Canaleta 3, Borboran 3, Apinan 3, Lingganay 0, Ramos 0

Quarterscores: 20-17, 41-32, 66-53, 82-82, 91-85