MERALCO Bolts leaned on the duo of Allein Maliksi and Chris Newsome to roll back Barangay Ginebra, 103-91, and level their PBA Philippine Cup best-of-seven semifinals series at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

Maliksi finished with a game-high 25 points while Newsome tallied 20 points, four rebounds and three assists in almost 37 minutes of action as the Luigi Trillo-mentored Bolts avenged their 88-92 defeat in the series opener last Friday.

Cliff Hodge aslo played well with a double-double performance of 13 points and 10 rebounds while Chris Banchero chipped in 11 points and eight rebounds for the Bolts, who turned a 79-80 deficit into a 12-point cushion.

Newsome said the Bolts played with a lot of poise and composure this time.

“That’s one those we talked about… keeping the poise whatever comes,” said Newsome in an interview posted on the official PBA website.

Trillo agreed.

“We’re more aligned today. But we have things to improve on. And we know Ginebra’s going to come back, and we have to be ready,” said Trillo.

The Bolts took an early lead and entered halftime with a comfortable 55-42 cushion only to watch the Kings regain the upperhand at 74-73 goinginto the final period.

Christian Standhardinger led the Gin Kings with a new career-high of 41 points.

The 6-8 Filipino-German went 13-of-17 from the field while adding, 11 rebounds and four assists in 44 minutes of play.

Standhardinger thus become only the fourth Ginebra local player in the last 32 years to achieve a 40-point game, following Mark Caguioa, Pido Jarencio, and Vince Hizon.

Maverick Ahanmisi added 14 points and eight rebounds while Stanley Pringle contributed 13 points for the Gin Kings of coach Tim Cone.

Veteran Japeth Aguilar, however, was limited to seven points on 3-of-5 shooting in almost 26 minutes.

Scottie Thompson and rookie Ralph Cu had six points each in a losing effort for the Gin Kings.

Game 3 of the scheduled best-of-seven series will continue on Wednesday, May 22 at the Dasmarinas Arena.

Meanwhile, the PBA is now accepting applications for the coming PBA Season 49 Rookie Draft.

Local players are required to present original copy of their PSA birth certificate, while Fil-foreign applicants should have a valid Philippine passport.

All aspirants meanwhile, should submit two pieces of 2×2 ID pictures, school records (if 19 years old), and a filled-up PBA application form.

Duly notarized application forms along with the other requirements must be submitted at the end of office hours at 5 p.m. on July 4 at the PBA office in Libis, Quezon City.

The scores:

Meralco (103) — Maliksi 25, Newsome 20, Hodge 13, Banchero 11, Almazan 7, Quinto 7, Mendoza 6, Bates 6, Pascual 5, Caram 3, Rios 0, Torres 0.
Ginebra (91) — Standhardinger 41, Ahanmisi 14, Pringle 13, j.Aguilar 7, Thompson 6, Cu 6, Onwubere 3, Tenorio 1, David 0, Pinto 0, Murrell 0.
Quarterscores: 32-27, 55-42, 73-74, 103-91.

Games Wednesday:

(Dasmariñas Arena)
4:30 p.m. — Rain or Shine vs. San Miguel
7:30 p.m. — Meralco vs. Ginebra

Results:

Game 1 — Ginebra 92, Meralco 88.
Game 2 — Meralco 103, Ginebra 91.
(Semifinal series tied 1-1)