The Meralco Bolts, who finished as a runner-up in the Oppo PBA Governors’ Cup last year, opened their campaign in the season-ending conference in style, cruising to an easy 107-78 victory over the Blackwater Elite on Friday at SMART-Araneta Coliseum.
Baser Amer had an all-around game of 20 points, six rebounds and eight assists while reigning Govs’ Cup Best Import Allen Durham tallied 18 points and 21 boards.
The Bolts thumped the Elite right from the get-go, starting the game on a 24-6 run and never looking back.
Meralco put up its biggest lead at 39 points, 63-34, at the half as Blackwater never mounted a serious rally to threaten the Bolts.
Trevis Simpson scored 25 points and eight rebounds to lead the Elite in the losing effort.