Threshold of glory Meralco eyes clincher vs San Miguel

MANILA, Philippines — What Meralco has in its hands is an opportunity too good to pass up. And the Bolts are poised to seize it right here, right now.

On the threshold of glory with a 3-2 lead against embattled PBA Philippine Cup holder San Miguel Beer, the resolute Bolts seek to finish the job today in Game 6 and claim a franchise milestone that has eluded them in four previous attempts in the Governors’ Cup finals.

“It takes a lot of trials sa finals. Masakit ‘yun (losses) but we relish it. It’s a learning thing for us, you grow from that and our guys have been so relentless on that, alam namin pagkukulang,” said Meralco coach Luigi Trillo.

“But right now that finals is nothing. Nobody remembers second place. You’ve got to win one to gain the respect. So that’s on our mind, that’s on our focus on Sunday,” he added.

Thanks to their 92-88 victory Friday, the Bolts are on top after five games in a best-of-seven Last Dance.

Now their ability to see it through will be known at 6:15 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Beermen’s comeback genes will be put to a major test – again. They’ve faced 2-3 deficits in the finals – against TNT in the 2022 All-Filipino, Magnolia in the 2019 Philippine Cup and Ginebra in the 2009 Fiesta Conference – and still won.

“Sana mangyari ulit ‘yan,” said SMB megastar June Mar Fajardo, whose 38-point, 18-rebound effort went for naught in Game 5.

“Pagsisipagan namin 'yung next game kasi gusto naming makuha 'yung championship. Hindi namin basta-basta ibibigay ‘yun. Lalaruin namin 'yung San Miguel basketball, ‘yun ang nireremind ni Coach (Jorge Gallent).”

For Meralco to meet its date with destiny, it has to win two in a row in this back-and-forth series. For SMB to steal its way to title-retention, it also needs to go back-to-back.

“By no means is this a done series at all. As you can see, no one’s won back-to-back games in this series so that’s the challenge right now that’s ahead of us and if we can do it on Sunday, that’s great,” said Meralco leader Chris Newsome.

The Fil-Am guard, whose dagger free throws sealed Meralco’s third W, expects do-or-die SMB to throw everything at them to try to extend it to a golden KO on Wednesday. 

“For us, we just need to have more motivation to overcome that (SMB’s fightback). It’s on us to stay focused and don’t let the situation take us out of our execution and what we need to do as a team. Just focus on every possession and the rest will happen,” said Newsome.