Pacquiao’s Kia team gets axe in PBA Philippine Cup

Aside from being a champion boxer, businessman, and congressman, Manny Pacquiao is also a playing coach for rookie team KIA Sorento in PBA’s 40th season. (Photo courtesy of KIA Sorento Basketball Facebook page)

MANILA – Manny Pacquiao suited up for Kia but it’s not enough to fire up the Sorento as they bowed to Meralco, 93-99, on Wednesday night and ended their bid for next round of the PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.

Jared Dillinger notched 25 points and seven rebounds for the Bolts who improved their win-loss record to 5-5 and tied with idle Global Port and Purefoods in the 7th place.

The Sorento put up gallant fight in the second half as they moved from 22-point deficit to just one point, 72-73 but could not sustain the rally.

With their 9th loss in 10 games, the Sorento lost a chance to face NLEX in a playoff for the last ticket in the quarterfinals.

The Sorento joined fellow expansion team Blackwater Elite, which remains winless in 10 games, for an early vacation.

Meanwhile, Talk ‘N Text defeated Purefoods Star in overtime, 100-96, for their seventh win in 10 games.

Ranidel de Ocampo finished with a team-high 18 points while Larry Fonacier scored a floater with 0.6 seconds to go in the regulation period to force an overtime at 88-all.

Marc Pingris had 21 points and 12 rebounds to pace the Hotshots, who absorbed their second setback in a row and fifth overall.

The scores (first game):

Meralco 99 — Dillinger 25, Hodge 17, Anthony 14, Wilson 11, David 10, Macapagal 8, Morrison 4, Cortez 3, Ferriols 3, Ildefonso 2, Sena 2, Buenafe 0, Guevarra 0.

Kia 93 — Cervantes 18, Poligrates 11, Revilla 10, Bagatsing 10, Thiele 9, Alvarez 8, Pascual 8, Dehesa 7, Custodio 6, Webb 4, Burtscher 3, Pacquiao 0, Buensuceso 0.

Quarters: 34-19; 60-39; 73-72; 99-93.

The scores (second game):

Talk N Text 100 — Washington 18, De Ocampo 18, Reyes 14, Castro 13, Carey 9, Alas 8, Rob Reyes 8, Alapag 5, Fonacier 4, Rosser 3, Aban 0.

Purefoods 96 — Devance 22, Pingris 21, Yap 18, Simon 15, Barroca 11, Mallari 5, Taha 2, Maliksi 2, Reavis 0.

Quarters: 22-22; 39-42; 67-64; 88-88; 100-96.