By REYNALD MAGALLON
Meralco has faced Barangay Ginebra’s familiar “Never-Say-Die’” run numerous times in the playoffs that somehow it already knew how to respond well when facing one.
The Bolts squandered a huge 17-point lead but came to their senses just in time to pull the plug on the Kings’ comeback, 103-91, and even their best-of-seven semifinal series at 1-1 in the 2024 PBA Philippine Cup at the Mall of Asia Arena on Sunday, May 19.
Chris Newsome and Allein Maliksi stepped up and led the charge to help Meralco survive a career game from Christian Standhardinger who poured in 41 points while leading the huge second half uprising for Ginebra.
Maliksi, whose three-point shooting was completely taken away by Ginebra’s defense, proved to be still effective from the closer range after finishing with 25 points while Newsome, who delivered crucial hits down the stretch, provided support with 20 points.
Cliff Hodge was a workhorse for the Bolts with a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds while Chris Banchero chipped 11 points and eight rebounds.
Meralco can take the series lead over Ginebra in Game 3 when the PBA semis go down south at the Dasmarinas Arena in Cavite City on Wednesday, May 22.
Far from being discouraged by the 92-88 loss in Game 1, Meralco actually came out firing in the first quarter with Maliksi doing most of the damage from the mid-range to fire 14 of his total in the first 24 minutes of action.
A strong third quarter start allowed Meralco to build a huge 17-point lead, 60-43, early in the frame before Ginebra unloaded the familiar comeback with Standhardinger and Game 1 hero Stanley Pringle showing the way.
Standhardinger even scored 18 points in that stretch, singlehandedly tying the scoring of Meralco in the third frame.
A layup from the 31-year-old center early in the fourth even gave Ginebra the lead, 80–79, but Meralco had some answers with timely hits from Newsome, Banchero, Maliksi and Raymond Almazan to quickly restore order, 95-87 with three minutes left.
Standhardinger also had 11 rebounds to his name but there was barely no one after him in scoring with Maverick Ahanmisi and Pringle only the other double-digit scorers with 14 and 13, respectively.
