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| Ulaanbaatar should be glad that it pulled off an upset against the league champ of a known Asian basketball powerhouse. FIBA |
MANILA--Meralco's campaign in the Basketball Champions League Asia came to an end on Wednesday after Ulaanbaatar knocked the reigning PBA Philippine Cup champion out of contention with an 83-78 quarterfinal win at the Coca-Cola Arena.
The Bolts blew an early 13-point lead as the Broncos eventually went up by 11, 80-69, with 2:24 left.
Meralco, though, fought back with a 9-0 run that cut the lead down to two, 80-78, with 1:11 to go and had a chance to regain the lead after forcing a shotclock violation on Ulaanbaatar in the next play.
However, Jordon Varnado missed a go-ahead three, and Sergelen Otgonbaatar grabbed the rebound.
Saruul-erdene Enkhbaatar then made two free throws to up the lead back to four, 82-78, with 22 seconds to go.
Glynn Watson missed a layup and a three-pointer in the Bolts' next play, and Azbayar Altangerel split his charities to ice the Broncos' win.
Ian Miller led Ulaanbaatar with 32 points, three rebounds, and six assists, while Barsbold Baatar Erdene added 13 points and four rebounds.
Varnado put up 23 points, 14 rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one block, while Watson added 22 points, five rebounds, seven assists, three steals, and one block for Meralco, which will now turn its attention to the quarterfinals of the ongoing PBA conference.
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