ANTIPOLO-Calvin Abueva scored a career-high 41 points in a performance that brought back memories of his younger days as new team Titan Ultra stunned Meralco, 100-96, for a winning start to its PBA participation on Wednesday at Ynares Center here.
Abueva highlighted a big day by putting up 16 in the third quarter when the Giant Risers pulled away, eventually owning a 19-point lead in the fourth before foiling the Bolts’ comeback in the final minutes. Titan UItra also got 14 points from last season’s Most Improved Player Joshua Munzon plus six rebounds and five assists in the win that came despite a flat beginning to its Philippine Cup stint by missing the first eight shots and trailing 11-0 in the first five minutes.
Cade Flores had 10 points and six rebounds, Fran Yu posted nine points and nine assists and Ato Ular delivered eight points and seven rebounds after being traded from Phoenix days before the season opener.
CJ Cansino finished with 22 points and nine rebounds for the Bolts, who threatened to spoil the Giant Risers’ opening act when they cut the 90-71 lead down to three in the final seconds. Cansino drained a four that put Meralco within three, 98-95. The Bolts appeared to have gotten a big break when rookie Chris Koon missed two foul shots, time down to five seconds.
But Abueva came out with a hustle play to keep the possession, eventually leading to Munzon making two freebies after being fouled.
Cansino made one free throw and deliberately missed the second with 1.7 seconds. He actually got his own miss and made a pass to Chris Banchero from the four spot, only for time to run out.