MANILA: The Meralco Bolts finally barged into the win column after five outings, zapping the B-Meg Derby Ace Llamados 89-86 Friday night in the PBA Commissioner's Cup at the Cuneta Astrodome. With 26.1 seconds left and Derby Ace ahead 86-84 new Meralco import Chamberlain Oguchi drilled a three-pointer, his seventh for the night, as the Bolts retook the lead. Macmac Cardona sank two gift shots with 8.9 seconds left to preserve the win for Meralco. Oguchi finished with 29 points and 10 rebounds. The Llamados, who missed the services of top gunner James Yap, suffered their second straight defeat as they fell into a tie for sixth to seventh place with the Powerade Tigers, both with a 2-4 win-loss card. The win was a much-needed morale booster for the Bolts which suffered heart-breaking defeats in their last two games, first with Talk N Text (106-109) and then with San Miguel (89-90). Despite the win, Meralco stays at the bottom of the standings together with the idle Beermen, both with a 1-4 card. In the first match of the double-header, the Smart Gilas Nationals stayed undefeated after five games, plastering the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, 99-94.
