Meralco knows from harrowing experiences in the past that winning Game 1 of a PBA championship series is no assurance of a beautiful ending. And for the Bolts to produce three more victories after defeating the San Miguel Beermen, 93-86, in the opener of the Philippine Cup Finals on Wednesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum, they’ll need everyone to be like their favored opponent. That is for everyone to be capable of delivering when their number is called.
“We’re not gonna beat San Miguel with two or three guys,” coach Luigi Trillo said. “This San Miguel has so many weapons so we need everybody on board.” They’re three wins short of fulfilling their ultimate mission of bringing a PBA championship to the Meralco compound in Ortigas, but the Bolts have finished short of that goal before—twice.
Meralco reached the Finals of the 2016 and 2022 Governors’ Cup, eventually losing to Barangay Ginebra in six games each. “Winning Game 1 is always a big help,” Chris Newsome said. “But by no means we’re happy or we’re satisfied.
It’s just one game.” Newsome along with Chris Banchero, one of the principal figures in the deciding Game 7 semifinal triumph over Barangay Ginebra five days ago in San Jose, Batangas, scored 18 points apiece, with plenty of help along the way. The offense played complementary to the defensive stand the Bolts put up in the fourth quarter, eventually pulling away with multiple stops that led to fastbreak opportunities.
Offensive rebounds .
