Two straight for the BOLTS

PBA on Tour: Meralco Bolts go head-to-head with B-Meg Llamados

Momentum Swing

After losing their first game with Talk 'N Text and losing Mac Cardona with injury, Meralco Bolts rode the bull and went to the opposite direction. They won their last two assignments including B-Meg and they played it pretty strong especially in the end.

Their match up with the Llamados was exciting from tip off up to the final buzzer.

Chico Lanete was on fire in their game. He scored a team high 24 points with 9 assists and 3 steals, almost a double-double performance for the veteran guard. The front line combination of Mark Isip and Asi Taulava had success in the paint while Mark Borboran, a late but very significant addition in the line-up of Bolts was one of the finishers of this game.

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PBA: Bolts and B-Meg 1st Win!

Gabi Espinas and the rest of the
Bolts defend the basket
(Image by the PBA/Nuki Sabio)

BOLTS 1st ELECTRIFYING WIN

In the first game of PBA double header yesterday Merlaco Bolts clinched their first win of the conference after an 18-point lost against the Tropang Texters.

Though they were undermanned, Cardona suffer from a severe sprained ankle in their first game, Sol Mercado suited up yesterday but Coach Gregorio decided to seat him down, Reynel Hugnatan and Chris Ross also nursing injuries, but they were able to grabbed their first win against the slowly clicking Shopinas.com Clickers, 79-72.

It was Asi Taulava's effort that led his team to a win. The ageless wonder Taulava scored a crucial fall away basket when the team needed it the most. He got help from his teammates Macapagal, Espinas and Isip who scored 41 combined points.

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Blaze Boosters in solo lead; TNT crushed Meralco Bolts

Alex Cabagnot spins away
from Wynne Arboleda
(Image by the PBA)

2 and 0

Friday game day for the PBA. In the first game of a double header, Petron Blaze Boosters met the returning Barako Bull Energy. It was the highly anticipated return of the "Thriller" Willie Miller but the Blazing Petron denied his explosion to sealed their second win of the Conference.

Barako Bull made the first point, both team exchanged baskets in the early part of the first quarter but after that Petron created an early 5-0 run and gave them a 5-point lead 11-6. Barakos retaliate with Salvador, he scored 6 quality points to kept them in step with the Blaze Boosters. While Miller struggled in the start of the game, he made his first 2 points in the 4:30 mark of the first quarter but that points brought the lead of Petron down to 2 points, 14-12. It was a tight and physical first 12 minutes of the game and it ended with a low scoring ball game, 20-26 in favor of Boosters.

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PBA Teams 2011-2012 Line-Up (Meralco Bolts)

MERALCO BOLTS
Head Coach: Ryan Gregorio

#            Players
2            Chris Timberlake

Image by the PBA

3            Sol Mercado
5            Asi Taulava
7            Nelbert Omolon
8            Mark Yee
9            Yousif Aljamal
10          Gabby Espinas
12          Mark Isip
14          Mac Cardona
15          Gilbert Bulawan
16          Jason Ballesteros
26          Chico Lanete
80          Mark Macapagal
0            Bryan Faundo
RESERVE/INJURED LIST
Chris Ross
Reynel Hugnatan

Bolts is still struggling especially inside the paint. There is no question on their perimeter game, with Sol Mercado, Nelbert Omolon and Mac Cardona they are safe outside, with the addition of Chico Lanete and the streak shooter Mark Macapagal they strengthen their outside game but how will they maximize their outside shot if that is the only way that they can score, it will easily be defended, it will be quite obvious.

Gabby Espinas is maybe the only one that can play a more effective low post game compare to the veteran Asi Taulava and a more face-up player Mark Isip. Jason Ballesteros is an additional big guy but can he play in the post and banged bodies inside the paint?

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