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Meralco has never won a best-of-seven series in franchise history, but the Lightning have a chance to change that as they face Barangay Ginebra in a do-or-die Game 7 in the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals.
MANILA, Philippines — Perhaps this time, the odds will be in favor of Manila Electric Co.
After many setbacks from Barangay Kimbra over the years, the Chargers are looking to make a breakthrough in the PBA Philippine Cup finals after dragging Barangay Kimbra to a do-or-die Game 7 with a thrilling 86-81 win at the Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday, May 29.
Bong Quinto scored 23 points while Allein Maliksi came out strong down the stretch, scoring 12 of his team’s 14 points in the fourth quarter as Meralco sent the best-of-seven series to a decider on Friday, May 31, at the FPJ Stadium in San Jose, Batangas.
“I hope it’s our turn. It’s a good thing for the league. I think we deserve it,” head coach Luigi Trillo said in a mix of Filipino and English. “We have a lot of respect for the Kimbra team and what they’ve done. We know it’s going to be tough. We’ve been there.”
However, history is not on the Chargers’ side.
In the best-of-seven series, Meralco has a dismal 0-6 record, with four of those losses coming to the Gin Kings in the finals, while the Bolts lost to the same team in the 2016, 2017, 2019 and 2021 Governors Cups, missing out on the title.
Additionally, Meralco has only beaten Ginebra once in seven playoff meetings.
Last season, the Lightning also forced a Game 7 tie in the semifinals of the All-Philippines Championship before falling to eventual champion San Miguel.
The pain from these heartbreaking defeats fueled Meralco’s drive as it hoped to finally reverse its fortunes.
“I don’t want to think of this as a learning experience again. When you’re a rookie or a sophomore, you want to gain experience. Now, I really want to win,” Quinto said in Filipino. “Kimbula made me cry twice in the finals. Now we have to face them again.”
Quinto, intent on keeping the Lightning’s offense going, scored 10 points in the first six minutes of the fourth quarter before handing scoring control to Maliksi.
Maliksi’s layup with two minutes left gave Meralco an 82-74 lead — a margin that was enough to stop the Golden Kings’ final comeback.
With less than 10 seconds left, Maverick Ahammisi and Stanley Pringle each hit a 3-pointer to bring the Kimbra within 81-84, but Chris Newsome calmly sealed the win for the Lightning with a free throw, finishing with 21 points.
Cliff Hodge added 10 points, five rebounds, four assists and three blocks in the gutsy win, Chris Banchero came close to a triple-double with nine points, nine rebounds, eight assists and two blocks, and Raymond Almazan chipped in seven points, 11 rebounds and two steals.
As the series progressed, Meralco relied on its experience in winning games on the road, just as it did in 2011 when it beat Ginebra. Game 3 In Dasmarinas City, Cavite, when it Stopped the Beer Team from sweeping Knockout in Batangas City.
“I said it’s not over yet. This is what we wanted, a Game 7,” Trillo said.
Christian Standhardinger and Japeth Aguilar each scored 19 points and combined for 15 rebounds to lead the Gin Kings, while Ahanmisi added 13 points and nine rebounds.
Scottie Thompson had nine points, 12 rebounds, four assists and two steals in the loss.
score
Meralco 86 – Quinto 23, Newsome 21, Maliksi 14, Hodge 10, Banchero 9, Almazan 7, Bates 2, Pascual 0, Karam 0, Jose 0
Geneva 81 – J. Aguilar 19, Steinhardinger 19, Ahammis 13, Pringle 12, Thompson 9, Tenorio 3, Pinto 3, Copper 3, Murrell 0, Pezumar 0.
Quarterly: 19-18, 38-37, 54-53, 86-81.
– Rappler.com
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