Games tomorrow:

(Philsports Arena)

5 p.m. --- NLEX vs Converge

7:30 p.m. --- Blackwater vs Ginebra

Defending champion Meralco checked a two-game slide with a great display of defensive effort sans suspended Cliff Hodge in a 103-85 crushing of Blackwater in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup Wednesday night at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.

The Bolts took care of business in the second half, clamping down on defense to quell the Bossing’s third quarter uprising for their fourth win in nine games.

“It’s probably the first time we played with a sense of urgency. Probably our best defense so far in terms of being locked in. We gave up about 80 points, which is good,” Meralco coach Luigi Trillo said with his team in a make or break stretch in the tightening race for a quarterfinals seat.

Chris Newsome led the Bolts’ charge with 19 points and seven rebounds.

CJ Cansino added 14 markers, Chris Banchero had 13 points while Raymar Jose and Brandon Bates scored 12 and 10 markers, respectively, for the Bolts, who played sans Hodge after getting slapped with a one-game ban and P100,000 fine after a dangerous foul to Magnolia winger Zav Lucero last week.

“Proud of the way the guys did it today. If you look at the rebounding — the last two games we lost, we didn’t win the rebounds. This game 52 to 42. We also shared the ball, 24 assists,” Trillo added.

“We didn’t shoot the three-ball well in the third quarter but we kept on. Good sign. It seems we have two more games before the playoffs begin. It’s nice to see the guys play together.”

Meralco ignited a telling run to counter Blackwater’s fightback that cut their deficit to eight. The Bolts broke away, 84-62, with 10:18 left in the payoff period.

The Bossing fell to a third straight defeat for a 1-5 mark tied with NorthPort.

Christian David had 24 points and 10 rebounds while Sedrick Barefield submitted 23 markers in a lost cause. Richard Escoto finished with 11 points.