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Coach Nenad Vucinic concedes Meralco ‘deserved to lose that game’ as the Bolts fall to the Ulaanbaatar Xac Broncos in the quarterfinals of the Basketball Champions League Asia despite a double-digit cushion
MANILA, Philippines – Meralco lost steam in the second half and crashed out of the Basketball Champions League Asia after an 83-78 loss to the Ulaanbaatar Xac Broncos in the quarterfinals at the Coca-Cola Arena in UAE on Wednesday, June 11.
A final four stint looked imminent for the Bolts as they enjoyed a lead as big as 13 points but they fizzled out and saw the Mongolian club advance behind the heroics of import Ian Bennet Miller.
Miller scattered 21 of his game-high 32 points in the last two quarters and also finished with 6 assists and 3 rebounds to propel the Broncos to a semifinal clash with reigning Japan B. League champions Utsunomiya Brex.
“Disappointing for us. We expected more,” said Meralco head coach Nenad Vucinic.
The Bolts comfortably led 53-42 before the Broncos turned things around, riding on a blistering 28-6 blast bridging the third and fourth quarters to mount a 70-59 lead with under eight minutes remaining.
Red-hot Miller outscored the entire Meralco team during that stretch as he poured 16 points highlighted by a pair of three-pointers.
Jordon Varnado and Bong Quinto joined hands for a 9-0 run that pulled the Bolts within a single possession, 78-80, with over a minute left, but the Broncos held on thanks to free throws by Saruul-erdene Enkhbaatar and Azbayar Altangerel.
“Had a chance to win but probably, you know, overall, we deserved to lose that game. It was not our day today,” said Vucinic. “Shooting was really off for most of the players. I think the opposition team really deserved to be in the semifinal.”
Varnado paced Meralco with 23 points and 14 rebounds, while fellow import Glynn Watson fired 22 points on top of 7 assists, 5 rebounds, and 3 steals.
Quinto ended up as the lone Bolts local in double-figure scoring with 12 points as star Chris Newsome went scoreless in over 28 minutes of playing time after missing all of his seven field goals.
John Egbunu put up 10 points and 8 rebounds, while CJ Cansino added 6 points, including the bucket that gave Meralco its biggest lead at 23-10 midway through the opening quarter.
Barsbold Baatar Erdene and Altangerel backstopped Miller with 13 and 10 points, respectively.
The Bolts concluded the tournament with one win and two losses as it bowed to Shabab Al Ahli Club then beat Utsunomiya in group play.
The Scores
Ulaanbaatar Xac Broncos 83 – Miller 32, Erdene 13, Altangerel 10, Tolbert 10, Tshimanga 7, Enkhbaatar 5, Sandagdorj 4, Chuluunbaatar 2, Otgonbaatar 0, Davaadorj 0, Elbeg 0.
Meralco Bolts 78 – Varnado 23, Watson 22, Quinto 12, Egbunu 10, Cansino 6, Banchero 2, Hodge 2, Almazan 1, Newsome 0, Black 0.
Quarters: 20-27, 40-42, 61-57, 83-78.
– Rappler.com
