Meralco Bolts’ Chris Newsome.–PBA IMAGES

Meralco showed poise on Sunday night to slip past Rain or Shine, carving out a 121-111 triumph to join the early leaders of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.

Heroes abounded for the Bolts at Ynares Center in Antipolo City, who bucked the early exit of import Akil Mitchell en route to outlasting a tough-as-nails Elastopainters who also played without a foreign reinforcement.

“I think that kind of motivated our boys, kind of kept them sharp to get that first quarter lead,” Meralco head coach Luigi Trillo said of his import’s untimely departure after getting his nose bloodied.

“We needed guys to step up,” he went on. “And [our] guys were ready to play right from the start.”

Chris Newsome showed the way with 25 points, while Bong Quinto chipped in 20 more. Jansen Rios added 16 while Norbert Torres, Raymond Almazan and Cliff Hodge all delivered with twin-digit scores as Meralco joined NorthPort and guest team Hong Kong Eastern atop the standings with an identical 2-0 record.

Keith Datu topscored the debuting Elastopainters with 17 points, Adrian Nocum pumped in 15, while old reliables Santi Santillan, Jhonard Clarito, Caelan Tiongson and Andrei Caracut all finished with at least 11 points each to smoothen the gaps brought on by also going All-Filipino.

Deon Thompson, who replaced original import Kenneth Kadji ahead of the tournament’s opening, has yet to gain clearance to suit up for Rain or Shine.

Meralco shoots for a third-straight victory against Terrafirma on Friday. Rain or Shine, on the other hand, faces an early test when it goes up against the visitors on Wednesday.

MERALCO 121 – Newsome 25, Quinto 20, Rios 16, Torres 13, Almazan 12, Hodge 11, Caram 10, Black 9, Pascual 2 , Pasaol 1, Jose 2, Mitchell 0

RAIN OR SHINE 111 – Datu 17, Nocum 15, Santillan 14, Clarito 13, Tiongson 12, Caracut 11, Lemetti 9, Belga 6, Norwood 5, Malonzo 5, Ildefonso 2, Demusis 2.

Quarterscores : 33-25, 52-49, 89-81, 121-111.

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