PBA: Anjo Caram strikes for 30 points as Bolts gain twice-to-beat quarters edge

By Jonas Terrado

Games Wednesday

(Smart Araneta Coliseum)

4:30 p.m. — NorthPort vs NLEX

7 p.m. — Alaska vs Phoenix Pulse

ANTIPOLO CITY — Backup point guard Anjo Caram came out of nowhere to score a career-high 30 points as Meralco beat NorthPort 103-89 Sunday to secure a twice-to-beat advantage in the PBA Governors’ Cup at the Ynares Center here.

Caram took into heart the role of having to step up with Baser Amer still far from 100 percent, hitting 11-of-15 shots including four three-pointers to emerge as the unlikely hero of the Bolts’ eighth victory in 10 outings.

Coach Norman Black flashed a wide grin with the performance of Caram, who entered the game averaging just 3.4 points in the previous nine games this conference.

“Anjo Caram was just awesome,” Black said. “He really gave us a lift and he pretty much guided this team’s victory.

“I wish he could do that every night because he was making shots all over the court,” added Black.

The performance also enabled Black to give Amer little playing time after missing Friday’s win over Columbian due to a groin injury.

Amer scored a conference-low two points and dished out four assists in 18 minutes.

Import Allen Durham had 26 points and 19 rebounds, Chris Newsome put up 17 points and seven rebounds and Raymond Almazan added eight points and seven boards in the Bolts’ fifth straight victory.

NorthPort fell to 3-6, allowing idle Alaska to gain a share of eighth spot entering the final 10 days of the eliminations.

Michael Qualls dropped 27 points and 10 rebounds while Christian Standhardinger added 20 points and nine rebounds before being ejected in the fourth with a second technical foul for approaching the technical officials’ table.

Scores:

MERALCO 103 — Caram 30, Durham 26, Newsome 17, Almazan 8, Pinto 8, Maliksi 6, Faundo 4, Hugnatan 2, Amer 2, Quinto 0, Jackson 0, Jose 0, Hodge 0, Jamito 0.

NORTHPORT 89 — Qualls 27, Standhardinger 20, Anthony 19, Mercado 9, Lanete 8, Taha 3, Ferrer 3, Elorde 0, Cruz 0, King 0, Escoto 0.

Quarters: 20-23; 50-45; 72-69; 103-89.

Source: Manila Bulletin