Super Mac saves the day for Meralco

Super Mac saves the day for Meralco

Meralco 88 vs. Powerade 85

by rick olivares

November 24, 2010

Araneta Coliseum

Who would have thought that unorthodox hook-floater-tear-drop-or-whatever-you-want-to-call-it-shot of Mark Cardona would become one of the most lethal and sure as rain sign shots in the PBA? He banked it in at a crazy angle from some 10 feet out. He faded from the baseline over a masked man (that was Powerade’s Sean Anthony who wore protective nose and head gear). And with Meralco holding a one-point lead, he stepped onto the free throw line, somehow short armed the first attempt but the backspin propelled the ball forward to bounce in. His subsequent free throw gave the Bolts a 88-85 lead that accounted for the final score as the ball died in the hands of Mark Macapagal without getting off an attempt.

Cardona guarded Powerade’s Ronjay Enrile, Gary David, and Macapagal, and he tallied five rebounds, six assists, and two steals.

“Mac Mac cannot just do it alone. That is the law of teamwork. In times wherein we struggled, Mac Mac would always be there to bail us out. Gabby Espinas had a considerable amount of success in the first three quarters.  No one man can do everything inside of the court, but when the game was on the line we had to call on Super Mac and he delivered.” said Meralco head coach Ryan Gregorio whose team has rode the crest of a three-match win streak to even up its slate to 5-5 to climb up to fifth place in the standings.

The Bolts led all the way as they time and again repulsed the rallies of the Tigers. The Tigers did tie the score at 84-all following a wide-open jumper by David but that was all she wrote for Powerade.

As the Tigers got poor leadership and almost zero production from point guards Paolo Mendoza and Enrile, they were forced to run their offense through Macapagal.

The former San Sebastian Stag can dish for sure such as when he zipped a pass from the top of the arc to a cutting Dennis Espino for a lay up or when he found an open Norman Gonzales for a trey. Just don’t give him the ball with the shotclock winding down.

With six minutes left in the game, Macapagal twice hoisted bricks with almost no time left. On a few others, the ball swung to a teammate several seconds too late for either a miss or a turnover.

And there was the last offensive with 7.4 seconds left where he was unable to locate Gary David, one of the great offensive weapons in the PBA today, who planted himself at the right side of the three-point arc much less take a shot.

As the joyful Bolts mobbed Cardona at midcourt, Macapagal looked at David and pointed to the top of the arc where he thought his teammate should have been. David threw up his arms in disappointment and headed towards their dugout.

“They came back but we hung on,” added Gregorio by way of tribute. “This was a separation win. We know we’re still within the danger zone and we don’t want to end up in the death trap. One of our goals is to be in the top six.”

Meralco now in fifth place, finds itself in a position to move up the league ladder with four games to play.

As the Bolts made their way out of the court, a fan in the stands called out to Cardona. “Captain Hook!” he yelled while he mimicked the Meralco captain’s signature move. Cardona looked up and waved.

Meralco 88 – Cardona 24, Espinas 21, Thiele 10, Aquino 9, Omolon 8, Ross 6, Gamalinda 4, Menor 2, Belga 2, Pacana 2, Weinstein 0

Powerade 85 – Macapagal 18, David 18, Laure 10, Espino 9, Ritualo 9, Antonio 8, Reyes 4, Calimag 4, Gonzales 3, Rizada 2, Anthony 0, Enrile 0, Mendoza 0

Notes: With three minutes left in the match and Meralco in the lead 83-79, Tiger Gary David picked off an errant pass and scooted down court. As he drove hard, the Bolts Nelbert Omolon tried to block David’s attempt but in the process smothered him. To the horror of the Powerade coaching staff, the referees swallowed their whistle as Cardona took a forward pass and motored towards the basket. He was fouled by Ren Ren Ritualo and made one free throw. With 1:29 left, Will Antonio knocked down a triple to make it 82-84 for Meralco. Said Powerade head coach Bo Perasol after the match, “Now how big was that non-call?” Meralco point guard Chris Ross nearly posted a triple double as he had six points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists.