By REYNALD MAGALLON
SAN JOSE, Batangas – Midway through the final frame rookie Brandon Bates swatted away a Japeth Aguilar attempt and then triggered a transition attack with Chris Banchero scoring on a layup that left a small section of Bolts fans behind the bench roaring in jubilation.
It was not the game-winning play but that all summed up the story of the game.
Meralco put up a defensive masterclass and knocked out Barangay Ginebra, 78-69 in Game 7 of their best-of-semifinals series to barge into its first ever Philippine Cup Finals appearance on Friday, May 31 at the FPJ Arena here.
A pivotal second quarter set the tone for Meralco, baring their defensive fangs and limited Ginebra to just three points in a nine minute span.
The tight defense along with the Bolts, finally getting their touches from deep after not connecting on a single one in the opening frame, allowed them to unload a blistering 19-3 run that turned a 17-29 deficit into a 36-31 advantage at the break.
Meralco, who had been on the bad end of its rivalry against Ginebra in best-of-seven series, never looked back from there and kept a double-digit advantage until the final buzzer to also notch the franchise’s first Game 7 win.
The Bolts arranged a finals showdown with defending champions San Miguel Beermen which will begin on Wednesday, June 5 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Banchero led the way for the Bolts with 24 points while Chris Newsome provided support with 20 points and six assists.
The breakthrough finals appearance, however, wouldn’t come for the Bolts if not for the huge defensive effort from Bates who recorded a season-high of six blocks on top of his six points and 13 rebounds.
The 6-foot-7 rookie was also solid in limiting Christian Standhardinger who he held to just 16 points and eight rebounds while also altering most of the shots inside by Ginebra.
As a result, the Kings were held to just 32 percent shooting from the field and its lowest output in three years or since it only scored 66 in another loss to the Bolts in the 2021 Philippine Cup.
Scottie Thompson, who had been struggling all-series long, had his best showing of 20 points, 10 rebounds and six assists go for naught after Ginebra failed to close out the series despite taking a 3-2 lead.
