MERALCO went to import Akil Mitchell to save the day and the game against reigning Korean Basketball League (KBL) champion Busan KCC Egis, scoring an 81-80 win in their East Asia Super League (EASL) Home and Away Season 2 game at the Philsports Arena Wednesday night.
Mitchell scored 11 of his 33 points in the fourth quarter as he willed the Bolts back from an 11-point deficit and escaped with the dramatic win in his debut game with the franchise.
He split his free throws in the last 6.4 seconds which proved to be the game-winner as Heo Ung’s desperate heave from the backcourt fell short at the buzzer.
The 32-year-old American-Panamanian also added 22 rebounds and four assists in a 36-minute performance without a turnover.
“This guy (Mitchell) led us with his big rebounds. The nice thing about bringing Akil is he’s a professional, he’s been around, and he knows how to win just like our former import Allen Durham,” said Meralco coach Luigi Trillo of Mitchell, who took over the spot of the 36-year-old Durham after his retirement.
Mitchell will reinforce Meralco in the coming PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
The Bolts also got solid contributions from second import DJ Kennedy, who had 14 points, eight rebounds, and five assists, and the trio of Chris Newsome, Ange Kouame, and Bong Quinto, who each had eight points.
Quinto had a big say in the fourth quarter comeback as his three-pointer with 31 seconds left tied the game at 80-all after the Bolts trailed by as many as 64-53 late in the third, and 72-63 early in the fourth.
The Bolts, the reigning PBA Philippine Cup champions, improved to 2-1 in Group B, surpassing their win-loss record in their first stint in the regional league last season.
