Cansino stars as Meralco beats TNT to even semis series

Sports

CJ CANSINO dropped a clutch four-pointer that powered the Meralco Bolts to a crucial 101-90 win over the TNT Tropang 5G in Game 4 of their best-of-seven semifinal series in the 50th PBA Commissioner’s Cup on Wednesday night, May 27, at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Bolts were clinging on to a precarious 93-90 lead when Cansino delivered the game’s biggest shot, a four-pointer from the top of the key that made it 97-90 with only 1:21 left.

The shot ultimately sealed the outcome of the contest, allowing the Bolts to tie the series at two games apiece. The victory was a huge bounce-back performance for Meralco, which lost Game 3, 75-77, despite TNT playing with an importless lineup.

Cansino finished with 17 points to back up Meralco’s new 7-foot import Patrick Gardner, who tallied 20 points and 13 rebounds.

The Bolts survived despite the fouling out of Gardner with still 3:26 left in the match.

The two squads actually paraded new imports as TNT brought in Chris McCullough to replace the injured Bol Bol.

McCullough tallied 24 points, nine rebounds, and three blocks in the loss. Jordan Heading contributed 15 points while Roger Pogoy and Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser each had 14 markers but the Tropa shot themselves in the foot when they started slow, allowingh the Bolts to end the first half with a 50-48 lead.

THE SCORES:

MERALCO (101) – Gardner 20, Cansino 17, Mocon 13, Black 12, Newsome 11, Hodge 8, Banchero 8, Brickman 6, Quinto 4, Almazan 2.

TNT (90) – McCullough 24, Heading 15, Pogoy 14, Ganuelas-Rosser 14, Oftana 10, Castro 8, Galinato 4, Nambatac 0, Enciso 0, Aurin 0, Khobuntin 0, Quitevis 0.QUARTERSCORES: 32-23; 50-48; 73-71; 101-90.(CCM)