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Jackson's crucial baskets help Bolts outlast weary Elasto Painters

When the going gets tough, Meralco could now bank on its renewed defensive vigor.

Proof to that was the Bolts’ unforgiving defense in the stretch that enabled them to turn back the hard-fighting Rain or Shine Elasto Painters Monday night 94-91 and take the opener of their best-of-three quarterfinals series in the PBA Commissioners Cup at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.

Import Darnell Jackson pumped in team-high 30 points, including the team’s last four points, while gunner Gary David sizzled with 27 markers, most of them coming in the second half, but it was Meralco’s willingness to play lockdown defense notably in the last three minutes that helped them rally past a pumped-up Rain or Shine crew.

Completing the Bolts’ defensive job was do-it-all forward Cliff Hodge, who recovered himself and soared in time to block Painters guard Paul Lee’s potentially-tying triple as time expired.

More than avenging a 79-96 setback dealt by third-ranked Rain or Shine in their previous meeting last March 26, No.4 Meralco also moved closer towards barging into a best-of-five semis either against top-seed Talk ‘N Text or eight-seeded Barangay Ginebra.

To realize that lofty goal, the Bolts still need to come up with the same–or even better–intensity in Game 2 on Wednesday also at the Big Dome.

Despite hardly taking a much-needed respite following a hard-earned 105-101 victory over Barangay Ginebra last Sunday, Rain or Shine displayed its usual groove behind the exploits of import Wayne Chism, Lee and reserve Chris Tiu, who took turns in wiping out an eight-point deficit in the third canto while enjoying a 91-88 cushion with 3:10 left to play.

However, the Bolts tightened up their defensive screws while Dillinger sank a jumper and Jackson drilled in an off-balanced jumper that saw them retake the lead 92-91 going to the last 69 seconds.

From there, the Painters struggled to muster enough goods, with Lee even turning the ball over to David that eventually set up the stage for Jackson’s insurance basket, a step-back 20-foot jumper over the outstretched arms of Chism for a three-point lead with 10.2 ticks left.

Off a timeout sued by RoS head coach Yeng Guiao, Lee put matters into his own hands and even momentarily broke free from Hodge for what could be a tying triple but was still denied just before time expired.

Chism went on to finish with a double-double of 27 points and 12 rebounds while Lee added 15 markers but sniper Jeff Chan only had eight and center Beau Belga even laid a big, fat egg with five attempts in 24 minutes of action.
 
The Main Man: Import Darnell Jackson showed why he a proven NBA veteran as he dominated with 30 points, 15 rebounds and four assists while taking charge in the crunch just when the Bolts needed him the most.
 
Honorable Mention: Backstopping Jackson were the likes of locals Gary David, Jared Dillinger and Cliff Hodge.
 
Game Turning Point: RoS Paul Lee appeared to have a clear shot for a tying triple but Meralco defender Cliff Hodge had other things in mind, soaring just in time to block his attempt.
 
He Said It:
Meralco coach Ryan Gregorio: “We’ve been in this situation before. We were not able to close it but experience is the best teacher. I told my import (Darnell Jackson) it's got to be them more tired than us. It’s good that he bailed us out with those two big, big shots.”
 
The scores:

MERALCO 94 - Jackson 30, David 27, Dillinger 15, Hodge 9, Wilson 5, Timberlake 4, Hugnatan 4, Ildefonso 0, Sena 0.

RAIN OR SHINE 91 - Chism 27, Lee 15, Arana 10, Tiu 10, Almazan 9, Chan 8, Norwood 8, Nuyles 2, Rodriguez 2, Belga 0, Cruz 0, Tang 0, Teng 0.

Quarters: 21-19, 40-44, 69-71, 94-91.