The Meralco Bolts ended their two-game skid in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup after pulling away late against the tough Blackwater Bossing, 105-96, Wednesday evening at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Meralco finally tallied their first win in the All-Filipino conference, rising to 1-2, while Blackwater dropped to 1-1.
Chris Newsome powered the Bolts with 22 points on 6-of-9 shooting off the bench. Cliff Hodge added 14 markers, while Brandon Bates and Allein Maliksi had 13 points apiece.
After close losses in their first two games, Meralco led by as much as 24 points, 65-41, in the third quarter against the young Blackwater squad.
But a 24-8 run by the Bossing sliced the deficit to single digit, 65-73, after a 4-pointer by RK Ilagan.
Ilagan continued to tow Blackwater back, as his triple pulled them to within three, 81-84, with 8:38 left in the game.
But a backbreaking 11-0 run broke the game wide open, turning the advantage to 14, 95-81, with 4:37 to go.
While Blackwater cut the lead to single digit several times down the stretch, they could not come closer than eight points.
Raymond Almazan tallied 12 points and eight rebounds for Meralco, while Aaron Black chipped in 11 markers.
Sedrick Barefield paced Blackwater with 34 points, two rebounds, two assists and two steals also off the bench, while Ilagan chipped in 22 points, three assists and two rebounds.
The Bolts will have a quick turnaround as they take on Barangay Ginebra on Friday at the same venue, while Blackwater will return to action next Friday against the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters at the Ynares Antipolo.