ONE more time.
Alaska and Meralco will have one more go at it with the last ticket to the finals on the line as they conclude their roller-coaster best-of-five semifinals in the 2016 Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup.
Tied up at 2-2, the Aces and the Bolts head into the deciding Game 5 at 7 p.m. today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, with the victor earning the right to enter the big stage against Rain or Shine in the best-of-seven finale that starts Friday.
Alaska is no stranger to this type of situation as it is looking to make the finals for the fourth time in the last five conferences.
Meralco, on the other hand, will look to enter the finale for the first time in franchise history.
The Aces had an initial chance to clinch the last finals berth, but failed to do so after failing to capitalize on their erstwhile 2-1 series lead.
With its back against the wall, Meralco rose to the occasion and showed that it is mature enough to have a deeper playoff run after it took Game 4 emphatically, 86-70, to force this decider.
Bolts coach Norman Black is looking forward to this opportunity ahead for his club and he wants them to seize the moment as they are in good position to have the breakthrough that they’ve been longing for.
“We’re able to live another day. We’re here and we’ll do our best to win Game 5,” said Black. “At this point in the season, why worry about everything that happened before? It’s all about what’s ahead for us and we have a chance.”