MANILA — Arinze Onuaku and James White put on an offensive showcase in their respective returns as Meralco and Phoenix scored contrasting wins to start their campaign in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup in Day 2 of the midseason conference at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City on Wednesday night.
Recovering from a sickness that had him confined at the hospital, Onuaku fired 30 points with 19 rebounds, six assists, four blocks, and three steals as the Bolts quickly recovered from a hot start by the Columbian Dyip to take a 116-103 win.
Meralco overcame a 31-point outburst from Columbian in the first quarter as the team quickly sent its opponent, which toppled Blackwater, 126-98, on Sunday, back to earth
On the other hand, former Dyip import James White fired 31 points, 14 boards, five dimes, five blocks, and two swipes in his debut with the Phoenix Fuel Masters as they withstood a late Elite run to preserve a 107-102 wire-to-wire win.
Up by as much as 22 points, Phoenix found itself just up by three, 105-102, with 12 seconds left as Blackwater had a chance to trim the gap further.
Roi Sumang, however, missed his second free throw, while Jarrid Famous failed to score the putback, and RJ Jazul scored on a breakaway layup to seal the win.
The scores:
First Game:
MERALCO 116 — Onuaku 30, Newsome 18, Salva 13, Canaleta 12, Dillinger 11, Hodge 8, Amer 7, Hugnatan 7, Caram 4, Sedurifa 4, Tolomia 2, Ballesteros 0.
COLUMBIAN DYIP 103 — Aiken 21, Lastimosa 16, McCarthy 16, Camson 15, Celda 14, King 12, Tubid 4, Khobuntin 2, Cahilig 2, Corpuz 1, Ababou 0, Escoto 0, Sara 0.
Quarters: 25-31, 56-57, 85-79, 116-103.
Second Game
PHOENIX 107 — White 31, Wright 19, Chua 17, Chan 11, Wilson W. 10, Jazul 9, Mendoza 3, Revilla 3, Perkins 2, Kramer 2, Eriobu 0.
BLACKWATER 102 — Sumang 20, Belo 19, Famous 19, Digregorio 11, Maliksi 11, Palma 7, Jose 6, Erram 6, Pinto 3, Marcelo 0, Sena 0.
Quarters: 31-17, 56-40, 75-69, 107-102. (Ivan Stewart Saldajeno/PNA)
