MERALCO ended years of frustration against Barangay Ginebra as it clamped down on its long-time nemesis, 78-69, in a do-or-die game for the right to face reigning champion San Miguel in the PBA Philippine Cup finals.
The Bolts never wavered in the midst of a fiery start by the Kings, clawing their way back from an 11-point deficit as Chris Banchero and Chris Newsome began to hit their stride and helped their side take a 36-31 halftime lead.
It was all Meralco from there as Ginebra struggled making field goals and free throws alike.
The all-important victory somehow allowed the Bolts to atone from their previous losses to their modern-day rivals, including all four meetings in the Governors’ Cup finals (2016, 2017, 2019, 2022).
In their first ever All-Filipino Cup finals in franchise history, Meralco kicks off their title series against the Beermen on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Here are the takeaways in Friday’s Game 7 at the FPJ Arena in San Jose, Batangas.
BATES A REVELATION FOR MERALCO
Banchero scored a career-high and Newsome was steady as usual for the Bolts, but it was big man Brandon Bates who proved to be the x-factor in the their breakthrough Game 7 win. The 6-foot-8 rookie had six points, and made his presence felt at the post with a team-high 13 rebounds and a game-high six blocks.
Photo: Jerome Ascano
All of these, he did while taking on the daunting task of guarding Fil-German banger Christian Standhardinger. His six blocks were also the most by any player since June Mar Fajardo who had the same number in a 100-96 win over Ginebra in Game 2 of the last Commissioner's Cup semis.
CONE STUCK IT OUT WITH A SHORT ROTATION
Without injured Jamie Malonzo, Jeremiah Gray, and Aljon Mariano, it was obvious Ginebra’s bench was lacking for help. Coach Tim Cone again relied on a short rotation, with only six players seeing action and just Stanley Pringle coming off the bench in the first quarter.
Photo:Jerome Ascano
The Kings didn't have fresh legs in the second quarter other than Nards Pinto's before 39-year-old LA Tenorio came in to start the second half and played spare minutes. In all, Ginebra played just a total of eight players with Standhardinger and Scottie Thompson forced to play more than 43 minutes each and other starters Maverick Ahanmisi and Japeth Aguilar 39 and 37 minutes, respectively.
MERALCO’S HARDWORK AND HUSTLE
For the second straight game, the Bolts shackled Ginebra to below 40 percent shooting from the floor, including 32 percent in Game 7 (24-of-75). Most tellingly, Meralco limited the Kings to just 11 points in the second quarter that turned the game around. That period output is the lowest a team has scored in the conference playoffs.
Photo: Jerome Ascano
Likewise the Ginebra's 69 points is its lowest in a game since the Bolts - yet again - clamped down on them, 79-66, in the eliminations of the 2021 Philippine Cup bubble in Bacolor, Pampanga.
BOLTS OUT OF THE BLUE
Aside from making the Philippine Cup finals for the very first time, the win was also Meralco's first Game 7 and best-of-seven series win. Overall, this will be the Bolts’ fifth finals appearance since entering the league in 2010 and their second straight series win over Ginebra after losing the previous six.
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