IT’S anyone’s game at this point with both Meralco and Alaska looking to gain every advantage they can as they break the one-all tie in their best-of-five semifinals series in the 2016 Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup.
After splitting the first two games, both the Aces and the Bolts want to get the upperhand as they battle again in Game 3 at 7 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
A 2-1 series lead will certainly mean a lot for the victor as it will move within a game of booking a finals ticket.
If the first two games of the series are indicators, expect Game 3 to be an all out war.
After Alaska prevailed in Game 1 to draw first blood, Meralco came back with a steadier performance in Game 2 Wednesday night, taking it, 92-87, to square the series after a stronger performance from import Arinze Onuaku.
Meralco coach Norman Black hopes the Bolts can follow up their win with another one.
“We’ve shown that we can come back and now I’m hoping we can keep it up and grab the lead,” said Black.
Onuaku and skipper Jared Dillinger combined for 42 points to power the Bolts in Game 2.
The game was decided down the stretch. Alaska Aces head coach Alex Compton said Meralco made the right plays and Alaska’s offense broke down. He noted that the Bolts were similar to the Aces in that they never give up. They just kept on coming.
Compton didn’t stay long to chat with reporters after the game and instead hurriedly left to proceed to the team’s headquarters at the Hoops Gatorade Center to meet with his coaching staff.
The difference, according to Compton, was Meralco executing their plays and making the shots down the stretch. He said the Aces were surprised by the pace of the Meralco offense and were often caught flatfooted by the Bolts who mixed fastbreak attacks with their slow half-court offense.
Compton cited import Arinze Onuaku, rookie Chris Newsome and veteran Reynel Hugnatan for their heads up play.
But the biggest difference according to compton was veteran Jared Dilinger, who scored 13 of his 20 points during the big fourth quarter turnaround where the Bolts overhauled a 14-point deficit. The Fil-Am guard converted five of 10 from three-point distance, including two in the final quarter which proved to be the difference.
Game today semis, Game 3 Smart Araneta Coliseum
7 p.m. – Alaska vs. Meralco
