Meralco posted a bounceback 114-98 win over NLEX to re-spark its PBA Governors’ Cup quarterfinal bid Thursday at the PhilSports Arena.

The Bolts banked on the electric performances of KJ McDaniels (31 points and 21 rebounds) and Allein Maliksi (19 spiked by four triples) to get back on track following losses to quarterfinalists San Miguel Beer and TnT.

Norman Black’s charges improved to 4-3 overall, giving themselves a share of sixth with idle Magnolia.

“I thought we just played better tonight. We got a good game from KJ, which we didn’t get for the last couple of games. He had 30-20. If he can give us that type of performance then we would have a chance of beating the opponents,” said Black.

McDaniels and Maliksi dropped a combined 19 in the fourth period to bail out Meralco after NLEX got to within five from a high of 21.

The Bolts foiled the first attempt of NLEX (5-3) to seal a Last-8 entry with Win No. 6.

“Basketball is really a game of runs. You rarely see a team blow out a team the entire game. You’ll get on a good run; you don’t know exactly why but the other team figures it out and comes back,” noted Black.

“At the end, we’re able to get some stops, Allein hit some big shots for us and KJ was really a dominant player in the paint, which really helped us. (Chris) Newsome did well. A lot of guys contributed to the victory,” he added,

Chris Newsome posted 18 markers, five rebounds and eight assists while Aaron Black shot 15 and Cliff Hodge had 8-9 in the concerted effort.

“We just got to keep it up. Except for a few teams that are pulling away, everybody else is really tooth and nail trying to make the playoffs.

“We’re one of those teams right now. We’re in the middle of the pack but we played the teams above us so we do have a chance of possibly moving up in the standings,” said Black.

With 29 markers, Wayne Selden Jr. led way for the Road Warriors.