The Meralco Bolts kept their hopes alive for a first-ever PBA Philippine Cup Finals appearance by thwarting the Barangay Ginebra Kings’ first shot at clinching the series with a gritty 86-81 win on Wednesday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Fielded as a starter for the first time in a long while, Bong Quinto responded with a game-high 23 points, while Chris Newsome and Allein Maliksi added their usual numbers, propelling the Bolts to a decisive Game Seven in San Jose, Batangas, on Friday.
Newsome and Maliksi combined for 35 points, including all of the Bolts’ last 15 markers. Their efforts helped Meralco stave off elimination, extending the waiting hours for first finals qualifier San Miguel Beer.
In a must-win game, the Bolts were aggressive on both ends of the court, heavily outscoring the Kings on fast breaks (18-1) and points off turnovers (24-9). Despite the Kings’ resilience, Coach Luigi Trillo’s squad managed to prevail in a grind-out battle, leveling the best-of-seven series at 3-3.
A crucial stretch saw Maliksi scoring nine consecutive points in the clutch, followed by Newsome securing the victory with important free throws. Newsome finished with 21 points, four rebounds, and three assists, while Maliksi, coming off the bench, contributed 14 points, six rebounds, two assists, and one block.
Maliksi’s lone block was particularly significant as it came against Scottie Thompson, preserving Meralco’s lead after his scoring spree made it 82-74 with just 2:04 left on the clock.
Cliff Hodge also made a notable contribution with 10 points, five rebounds, and four assists. Chris Banchero nearly achieved a triple-double with nine points, nine rebounds, and eight assists, while Raymond Almazan added seven points and 11 rebounds.
For the losing side, Christian Standhardinger and Japeth Aguilar each scored 19 points, while Stanley Pringle chipped in 12 points.
The Bolts’ victory sets the stage for a thrilling Game Seven, where both teams will vie for a spot in the PBA Philippine Cup Finals.
