MANILA: Meralco, supposedly the defense-conscious one in this best-of-seven series for the PBA Governors’ Cup, showed it can also shoot the living daylights out when the going gets tough.
The Bolts won an old-fashioned shootout against Barangay Ginebra in the fourth quarter on Wednesday night, posting a 107-103 nipping of the Gin Kings for a 2-1 lead in the season-ending title playoffs before another overflow crowd at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.
Reynel Hugnatan missed his first four three-point tries but made his last three, all of them coming inside the final 2:36, to highlight the Bolts’ hot-shooting night that now has Meralco taking momentum going into the critical fourth game on Friday night also at the Big Dome.
What’s surprising about that was coach Norman Black didn’t sound surprised at all.
“That’s no fluke, he (Hugnatan) did it in the Talk ‘N Text (Final Four) series,” Black said, when reporters pointed out to those three key triples that the pony-tailed Hugnatan made.
“I will let him keep taking those shots,” Black said confidently. “That’s one of the main reasons why we’re in the Finals.”
Allen Durham got all the space he needed to operate inside because of the locals’ steady outside shooting, getting away with 36 points and 20 rebounds as he held his own in a mano-a-mano duel with Ginebra counterpart Justin Brownlee.
Jimmy Alapag also had two big threes in the fourth and finished with 18 points, his most since being acquired by the Bolts out of retirement at the start of the year.
As a team, Meralco dropped 12 total triples on the Gin Kings, who made just four from afar.
“It (making the outside shots) takes a lot of pressure off Durham,” Black said. “It makes it difficult for them (Gin Kings) to double team him (inside the paint).”
The first three quarters were all about defense, until both squads found their bearings in the final frame and made it look like it became more to Ginebra’s liking.
But the Bolts just wouldn’t back down from such a challenge.
Alapag drained the first of his two treys that made it 83-77, and when Sol Mercado made a layup that had Ginebra coming to within 87-89, made the second for more breathing room for the Bolts heading into the last 3:14.
Chris Newsome was actually the best local player for Black, finishing with 22 points and six assists, the last coming off a brilliant cross court pass to Hugnatan for the last of those three triples with 42.2 left which made it 105-98.
Ginebra still refused to wilt, as a trey by import Justin Brownlee from more than 30 feet out had the Kings moving within 105-103 with 11.2 to go.
That Brownlee shot actually highlighted the disappointment that Ginebra coach Tim Cone felt the entire game.
“I felt we were too Justin-reliant tonight,” Cone told reporters after finding himself trailing in the series for the second time. “We just didn’t play to our identity tonight. And if we had forgotten that (playing to our identity) this (series) will get away from us.”
“I was upset for 48 minutes because I thought we didn’t play to our identity.”
Cone also blamed officiating on Mercado as a huge part in their Game 3 debacle.
“I felt today that the refs had an eagle eye on him,” Cone said of Mercado, their Game 2 hero. “What he did last game he couldn’t do tonight. If that’s the way it’s going to be called on him, there’s no way we can guard Durham.”
Mercado made the key putback in an 82-79 Game 2 win and held Durham to just 22 points with his physical defense.
In Game 3, he scored four points, playing just over 18 minutes after picking up two fouls in the first quarter and leaving the game with 14.5 seconds left.
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Meralco
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Troubled
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Pliskova
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Kyrgios
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Pliskova to spearhead Czechs in Fed Cup final
PRAGUE: World No. 5 Karolina Pliskova will lead reigning champions the Czech Republic in the Fed Cup final against France in Strasbourg on Nov. 12-13, team captain Petr Pala said Wednesday.
Pala has also called up 11th-ranked Petra Kvitova, 20th-ranked Barbora Strycova and Lucie Hradecka, ranked 193rd for singles and 14th for doubles.
“It’s a pleasure to travel to the finals in France with a team like this,” Pala told reporters.
“We have a really strong team and I think we’re going there as favorites.”
The 24-year-old Pliskova reached the US Open finals this year and made her way to the WTA Finals in Singapore at the end of October.
The 26-year-old Kvitova, the Wimbledon champion in 2011 and 2014, has sacked two coaches this year as she has been struggling to return to the top 10.
The Czechs have won four Fed Cup trophies out of the last five editions.
France last lifted the trophy in 2003 with a team led by Amelie Mauresmo — the current team captain — and Mary Pierce.
In their last encounter, the Czechs won 3-1 at Ostrava in the 2015 semifinals. The two teams are 3-3 head-to-head in the competition.
Led by Pliskova and Strycova, the Czechs beat Switzerland 3-2 at Luzern in the April semifinals, while France saw off the Netherlands 3-2 at Trelaze, betting on Caroline Garcia and Kristina Mladenovic.
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Jankovic adances to Hong Kong Open third round
HONG KONG: Defending champion Jelena Jankovic of Serbia beat compatriot Aleksandra Krunic in straight sets Wednesday to reach the third round of the Hong Kong Open.
The number seven seed dispatched Krunic, who is ranked 141 in the world, 6-4, 6-3 in under 90 minutes. Jankovic will now face either Venus Williams or Alize Cornet of France in the next stage.
Top seed Angelique Kerber of Germany, who was defeated by Jankovic in the final last year, was leading America’s Louisa Chirico 2-1 in the third set when rain stopped play for the evening.
Kerber had dominated the first set 6-2 but her opponent, with a singles ranking of 60, fought back to take the second 6-3. The American faces a break point when play resumes tomorrow.
Also on court Thursday are Denmark’s Caroline Wozniacki and Britain’s Heather Watson, while Qiang Wang of China takes on Britain’s Johanna Konta in the second round.
Top seeds breeze through at WTA Tianjin
Top seeds Agnieszka Radwanska and Svetlana Kuznetsova made short work of their opponents Wednesday to advance in the WTA Tianjin Open.
In the last first-round match, world number two and top seed Radwanska took just an hour to beat Germany’s Tatjana Maria, ranked 105, winning 71 percent of first serve points.
Meanwhile 31-year-old Kuznetsova, the second seed, advanced to the third round with a 7-5, 6-4 victory over Donna Vekic of Croatia, despite hitting one ace to her opponent’s five.
Danka Kovinic of Montenegro lost the first set against American Shelby Rogers. But her opponent only took three more games as Kovinic ran out a 2-6, 6-1, 6-2 winner, notching eight aces and saving seven break points out of 10.
China has hosted an increasing number of WTA tournaments as it seeks more clout in the game.
The Tianjin Open carries a total prize purse of $426,750, according to the WTA’s website.
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Troubled Fury could lose boxing license
MANCHESTER, England: World heavyweight champion Tyson Fury could lose his license on Wednesday when British boxing chiefs discuss the future of the troubled fighter, who has admitted to taking cocaine to deal with manic depression.
The British Boxing Board of Control will hold a meeting in Cardiff and general secretary Robert Smith has said Fury's "recent issues" will be among the subjects up for discussion.
Fury has not fought since beating Wladimir Klitschko in November 2015 to claim the WBA, WBO and IBF titles. He has twice pulled out of a rematch with Klitschko, the second withdrawal coming last month — ahead of a scheduled Oct. 29 fight — when Fury was declared "medically unfit" by his team.
The World Boxing Organization confirmed in a statement released Monday that it received a report from the Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency (VADA) in the United States showing that Fury failed a drug test on Sept. 22, and asked Fury if he has requested analysis of a 'B' sample. The WBO also said it received information from the British board that Fury refused to be drug-tested last month.
In a rambling interview with Rolling Stone magazine published earlier this month, Fury is quoted as saying he has been bingeing on cocaine and alcohol to deal with manic depression.
"I've been out drinking, Monday to Friday to Sunday," Fury told the magazine. "I've taken drugs, cocaine, on many, many occasions for the last six months."
In the interview, he also described himself as a "manic depressive" and said: "I just hope someone kills me before I kill myself."
Britain's former two-weight world champion, Ricky Hatton, had his license taken away by the British board in 2010 following widespread allegations about the use of cocaine. It was returned two years later following a personal hearing.
Fury was stripped of the IBF title soon after beating Klitschko, for not fighting a mandatory challenger. The WBO said in its statement on Monday that Fury had 10 days to show why his WBO belt "should not be vacated due to inactivity, breach of contract and performance-enhancing drugs and stimulants."
If the 28-year-old Fury loses his license, Klitschko and IBF champion Anthony Joshua could fight for the new vacant world titles.
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Kyrgios in tanking row, Nadal crashes out
SHANGHAI: Australia's Nick Kyrgios was booed off court in a tanking row at the Shanghai Masters on Wednesday as Rafael Nadal crashed out and Andy Murray motored into round three.
The combustible Kyrgios argued with a fan and the chair umpire as he gave up on a string of points during his 6-3, 6-1 defeat to German qualifier Mischa Zverev, the world number 110.
Afterwards Kyrgios, known for his volatile behaviour, admitted "taking the easy way out" and "tapping out a little bit", saying he was tired after last week's Japan Open win.
Low points included a child-like lobbed serve which Zverev said reminded him of playing his girlfriend, and walking away from one of the German's serves as it landed.
But 14th-ranked Kyrgios, who was also hit with a code violation for an audible obscenity, insisted he couldn't understand why the jeering fans were upset.
"I feel like if they knew what they were talking about they'd be on the tennis court and being successful, as well," said the 21-year-old.
"No, I can't really understand it at all. They don't know what I'm going through."
Kyrgios has regularly courted controversy in his short career and last year he received a suspended one-month ban for making a lewd comment about Stan Wawrinka's girlfriend.
In his opening match in Shanghai, a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Sam Querrey, he said he was "bored" and tired after his exertions in Tokyo.
Murray, who moved fluently past Steve Johnson 6-3, 6-2, was quick to defend the troubled Kyrgios, who despite his problems remains one of the sport's most talented players.
"You need to go out there and give your best effort of what you have on that day. If he didn't do that, then he will be disappointed with himself tonight," said the world number two.
"But we're not perfect. Everyone makes mistakes. You just want to make sure that you learn from them and make sure it doesn't happen over and over again."
Nadal raised emotions of a different sort when he departed grim-faced and with his ardent fans in tears after a shock 6-3, 7-6 (7/3) defeat to Viktor Troicki.
Chinese fans brandished pictures of Nadal -- including one of him in his underwear -- but they looked on in dismay as the 14-time Grand Slam champion was well beaten.
Afterwards Nadal, now 30 and with a catalogue of injuries to his name, vowed to return to top form by next season, mainly by putting the zip back in his forehand and movement.
"I know what I have to do and I'm going to do it," scowled the Spaniard, who has had little to smile about at the big tournaments this year.
"I've got two-and-a-half months until next season starts so I have got two-and-a-half months to put myself at the level I want to be.
"And I'm confident I'm going to do it."
Wawrinka, by contrast, moved through with minimal fuss as the US Open champion mastered Britain's Kyle Edmund 6-3, 6-3 to reach the third round.
Canada's Milos Raonic beat Paolo Lorenzi 6-2, 6-4, but Czech seventh seed Tomas Berdych tumbled 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/1) to Marcel Granollers.
Canadian qualifier Vasek Pospisil upset Grigor Dimitrov 7-5, 7-6 (7/2), David Goffin beat Benoit Paire 6-1, 7-6 (7/0) and Gilles Simon ousted Chinese wildcard Wu Di 6-2, 6-2.
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Kyrgios in tanking row, Nadal crashes out
SHANGHAI: Australia's Nick Kyrgios was booed off court in a tanking row at the Shanghai Masters on Wednesday as Rafael Nadal crashed out and Andy Murray motored into round three.
The combustible Kyrgios argued with a fan and the chair umpire as he gave up on a string of points during his 6-3, 6-1 defeat to German qualifier Mischa Zverev, the world number 110.
Afterwards Kyrgios, known for his volatile behaviour, admitted "taking the easy way out" and "tapping out a little bit", saying he was tired after last week's Japan Open win.
Low points included a child-like lobbed serve which Zverev said reminded him of playing his girlfriend, and walking away from one of the German's serves as it landed.
But 14th-ranked Kyrgios, who was also hit with a code violation for an audible obscenity, insisted he couldn't understand why the jeering fans were upset.
"I feel like if they knew what they were talking about they'd be on the tennis court and being successful, as well," said the 21-year-old.
"No, I can't really understand it at all. They don't know what I'm going through."
Kyrgios has regularly courted controversy in his short career and last year he received a suspended one-month ban for making a lewd comment about Stan Wawrinka's girlfriend.
In his opening match in Shanghai, a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Sam Querrey, he said he was "bored" and tired after his exertions in Tokyo.
Murray, who moved fluently past Steve Johnson 6-3, 6-2, was quick to defend the troubled Kyrgios, who despite his problems remains one of the sport's most talented players.
"You need to go out there and give your best effort of what you have on that day. If he didn't do that, then he will be disappointed with himself tonight," said the world number two.
"But we're not perfect. Everyone makes mistakes. You just want to make sure that you learn from them and make sure it doesn't happen over and over again."
Nadal raised emotions of a different sort when he departed grim-faced and with his ardent fans in tears after a shock 6-3, 7-6 (7/3) defeat to Viktor Troicki.
Chinese fans brandished pictures of Nadal -- including one of him in his underwear -- but they looked on in dismay as the 14-time Grand Slam champion was well beaten.
Afterwards Nadal, now 30 and with a catalogue of injuries to his name, vowed to return to top form by next season, mainly by putting the zip back in his forehand and movement.
"I know what I have to do and I'm going to do it," scowled the Spaniard, who has had little to smile about at the big tournaments this year.
"I've got two-and-a-half months until next season starts so I have got two-and-a-half months to put myself at the level I want to be.
"And I'm confident I'm going to do it."
Wawrinka, by contrast, moved through with minimal fuss as the US Open champion mastered Britain's Kyle Edmund 6-3, 6-3 to reach the third round.
Canada's Milos Raonic beat Paolo Lorenzi 6-2, 6-4, but Czech seventh seed Tomas Berdych tumbled 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/1) to Marcel Granollers.
Canadian qualifier Vasek Pospisil upset Grigor Dimitrov 7-5, 7-6 (7/2), David Goffin beat Benoit Paire 6-1, 7-6 (7/0) and Gilles Simon ousted Chinese wildcard Wu Di 6-2, 6-2.
Meralco rules shootout vs. Ginebra in 4th quarter for 2-1 lead
Meralco rules shootout vs. Ginebra in 4th quarter for 2-1 lead
