MERALCO forward Cliff Hodge did what he does best when the Bolts needed it most–getting two crucial offensive rebounds that proved to be among the keys in the endgame last night.
Refusing to lie down and die, Meralco held off hard-fighting Terrafirma 86-83 for its second straight win in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Bolts wingman Bong Quinto muffed his second free throw in the last 45 seconds, but Hodge soared over the Dyip and grabbed the board that saved another possession for his team.
That play drew a deafening roar from the Meralco crowd and to the delight of Bolts coach Luigi Trillo, whose punched the air.
Quinto redeemed himself with a fastbreak layup that gave Meralco an 85-81 cushion, but Terrafirma star rookie Stephen Holt’s two charities pulled the Dyip to within 83-85 with 6.6 ticks left.
Tested anew at the foul line, Quinto calmly canned another freebie but missed on the second that left the Bolts’ faithful on the edge of their seats in the last 5.5 seconds before Hodge saved the day with another offensive carom–his seventh that he laced with four points and four assists.
“People really don’t see that but that’s Cliff. We’re happy for him, too. He’s been here in the league for 12 years and finally he was an All-Star this year,” Trillo said of his prized ward. “He does so many things that cannot be seen on the stat sheet. Nakakataba ng puso.
“The thing with the players is parang they have the poise to do things well. Ang sabi namin ay hindi biro iyong Terrafirma kasi they’re a good, solid team. They’re well coached and they have pieces now, players who they can go to,” he added.
Quinto banged in 18 points, to go with seven rebounds, and four dimes for Meralco, while Norbert Torres provided a surprise boost with 15 markers and five boards.
