Paul Zamar may have hit the biggest shot in his pro career.
Zamar nailed a game-winning triple with 7.9 seconds remaining to lift Blackwater to a thrilling 94-91 escape win over struggling Meralco to resume its winning ways in the 2018 Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Friday night.
The teams were knotted at 91 apiece when Blackwater swung the ball and found Zamar on the left elbow for the go-ahead triple.
Still with some time on the clock, the Bolts rushed to the other end but Allen Durham opted to go for a two-point bank shot, despite the three-point difference, and it did not find its mark, allowing the Elite to escape with the hard-fought win.
Henry Walker led the way for Blackwater with 24 points, while Mac Belo had 14 markers, with three triples and five rebounds.
Zamar finished with 13 points and Roi Sumang had 12 for the Elite.
Blackwater improved to 5-1 after the bounce-back win, tying Barangay Ginebra and Magnolia at the top of the heap.
On the other hand, Meralco’s woes continued as it dropped to 1-4 in ninth place after absorbing its fourth straight loss.
Blackwater trailed 74-82 midway the fourth, but it managed to make its way back.
The Elite unleashed a 14-4 blast to suddenly take the driver’s seat, 88-86, with 1:29 left after a Walker basket.
The two teams then exchanged clutch baskets the rest of the way until ultimately, Blackwater had the last say with Zamar’s heroics.
Durham led Meralco with 32 points.
Blackwater started out hot, taking a 32-19 lead in the latter part of the first quarter before Meralco quickly erased its deficit.
It then became a nip-and-tuck battle in the middle quarters, with the Bolts eventually taking a slim 62-61 edge heading the final canto.
The scores:
Blackwater 94—Walker 24, Belo 14, Zamar 13, Sumang 12, Maliksi 10, Jose 8, Sena 5, Pinto 4, Digregorio 2, Al-Hussaini 2, Javier 0.
Meralco 91—Durham 32, Amer 14, Bono 10, Newsome 8, Caram 7, Lanete 5, Hodge 4, Salva 4, Tolomia 3, Jamito 2, Hugnatan 2, Atkins 0, Canaleta 0.
Quarterscore: 18-14, 40-37, 61-62, 94-91.