DEFENDING champion San Miguel moved on the verge of returning to the PBA Philippine Cup finals, while Meralco scored a repeat over Barangay Ginebra to take the lead in their best-of-seven semifinals series after three games.
Getting double figures from seven players, the Beermen withstood a tough stand by Rain or Shine to beat the Elasto Painters for the third straight game, 117-107.
They’re now on the cusp of sweeping the best-of-seven series heading into Friday’s Game 4. Another win would have the winningest franchise back in the championship series and in a perfect position to retain the league’s crown jewel.
The Bolts, on the other hand, put pressure on the Kings behind an 87-80 win to take a 2-1 lead in their own race-to-four series.
Led by Allein Maliksi, Meralco had complete command in the game, never letting Ginebra get into any rhythm to the disappointment of the jam-packed crowd.
Here are our takeaways in the first-ever doubleheader at the newly-built arena in Dasmarinas City, Cavite.
CSTAN BENCHED AGAIN
Lost in the Kings’ second straight setback in the semis was the benching anew of Christian Standhardinger. The Fil-German, who exploded for a career-best 41 points in Game 2, was taken out with 8:04 still remaining in the game and never returned. Ginebra was trailing, 78-63, at that point.
Standhardinger finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds on 3-of-10 shooting from the field. It was the second time this conference he was benched in the final period after coach Tim Cone sat him out along with Scottie Thompson back in the Kings’ last elimination game against the NLEX Road Warriors.
GINEBRA’S NOT-SO-DEEP BENCH
The semis series against Meralco has so far exposed Ginebra’s shallow bench. Up against a Meralco side utilizing 10 to 11 players at the most, the Kings were forced to go to their bench and tried to get something out of seldom-used players like Raymond Aguilar, Sidney Onwubere, and Von Pessumal in a semis up against their modern-day rivals.
After LA Tenorio only averaged three minutes in the first two games, the veteran point guard was forced to play extended time (20 minutes) in Game 3 and had nine points, five rebounds, and four assists.
YENG-ROMEO HEATED WORDS ADD DRAMA TO SMB-RoS SERIES
The endgame exchange of words between Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao and San Miguel gunner Terrence Romeo provided much-welcome spectacle to a series that has been definitely dominated by the Beermen.
Now, all eyes will be on both Guiao and Romeo come Game 4 when the Beermen go for a 4-0 sweep and the Elasto Painters try to live another day.
NENAD MAKING DIFFERENCE AT MERALCO
Active consultant Nenad Vucinic has been working wonders for the Bolts in the playoffs.
The Bolts have been moving the ball well and making just about everybody involved on offense. Of course, defense has never been a problem for Meralco, which has long thrived on its schemes and patterns from back during the days of former coach Norman Black.
Meralco is also digging deep into its bench, with the likes of rookies Brandon Bates and Jolo Mendoza, as well as Norbert Torres, Kyle Pascual, and the ever reliable Anjo Caram getting considerable minutes to give the starters much-needed respite, which could work well in the long run especially in a best-of-seven series.
And well, history tells us that Ginebra-Meralco playoff series, more often than not, goes the distance.
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