MERALCO goes for its first-ever PBA crown on Sunday in Game Six of the Philippine Cup finals against San Miguel at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
The Bolts are one win away from their first title since joining the professional league in 2010 after beating the Beermen, 92-88, last Friday also at the Big Dome.
San Miguel, however, most definitely wants to extend the series and keep its bid for a 30th championship alive.
Here are some of the keys that could decide the winner of Game Six.
Meralco vs. San Miguel
Bolts lead series, 3-2
When: Sunday, June 16. 6:15 p.m.
Where: Smart-Araneta Coliseum
Watch: RPTV, PBA Rush, Pilipinas Live
SAN MIGUEL HAS BEEN HERE BEFORE
While the Beermen are down, 3-2, in the series, they have experience being in such predicament. Thrice, actually, the most recent during the 2022 Philippine Cup where they overcame TNT.
READ: June Mar still confident San Miguel's chances far from dim
San Miguel also won against Magnolia in the 2019 Philippine Cup, and Barangay Ginebra in the 2009 Fiesta Conference with their opponent one game away from capturing the crown.
THREE-POINT SHOOTING
San Miguel sorely missed its usually on-point three-point shooting last Friday. Even though CJ Perez made three, their other more lethal shooters failed to produce. Marcio Lassiter went 0-of-3 from the outside, Chris Ross had a 1-of-6 clip, while Don Trollano, Jericho Cruz, and Terrence Romeo were a combined 1-of-7.
PRODUCTION FROM CJ PEREZ
San Miguel needs better efficiency from Perez in Game Six. The 17-point performance of the 'Predator' in Game Five was actually his lowest in the finals, and he shot only 4-of-16 from the field, including making just one of his nine shots from two-point range.
Perez has averaged 26 points in the Beermen's two victories, and 18.3 in the games where San Miguel lost in the series.
BENCH HELP
The production of the reserves continues to be a key factor in the finals. In Game Five, Meralco’s bench outscored its San Miguel counterparts, 30-19, with Allein Maliksi scoring 22 points.
READ: 'Missing' Maliksi takes it upon himself to step up in Game 5
On the other side, second stringers Mo Tautuaa, Vic Manuel, and Terrence Romeo have already made a major impact in the finals, but the one player off the bench who has struggled is Jericho Cruz, who remains far off his game from last conference where he was a contender for Commissioner's Cup Finals MVP. In this series, the team which has the most bench points wins the game.
NEWSOME MUST DOMINATE AGAIN
After four finals heartbreaks at the hands their modern-day rivals, Chris Newsome has taken his game to another level for Meralco. In Game Five, he had a team-high 22 points including a couple of clutch baskets to take the win.
Another dominant performance from him, coupled with collective effort from his supporting cast, would not only help the Bolts' chances of winning Game Six, but also Newsome’s odds of taking home Finals MVP.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
