Defending champion Meralco Bolts rose from their struggles and got themselves back in playoff contention in the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup.
Meralco leaned on a strong second quarter to beat Blackwater, 103-85, in the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo Wednesday, May 21.
Coming off back-to-back losses, the Bolts finally looked like the same team that won it all in the previous year and took a 52-39 lead at halftime.
Meralco played sans Cliff Hodge, who served a one-game suspension, but hardly needed his presence in fashioning out the dominant victory.
[RELATED STORY: PBA: Cliff Hodge, Magnolia assistant coach fined, suspended after bench-clearing incident]
The reigning titleholder thus improved to 4-5 and put itself back in playoff contention.
The Bolts will next face NLEX on May 25.
