Game 3 was about survival for the Meralco Bolts, who came in hoping to avoid an 0-3 hole against the TNT Tropang 5G in their PBA Philippine Cup semifinals series. For the Tropa, it was about asserting absolute control, with a win at the Smart Araneta Coliseum putting them on the proverbial hill. In the end, Meralco got the better of TNT, 97-89, to get on the board and halve the Tropa’s series lead to 2-1.
What Happened?
Meralco got off to a strong start once again, racing out to a 21-15 advantage in the first quarter thanks to a pair of early treys from Bong Quinto and contributions from Cliff Hodge and CJ Cansino. The Bolts extended the lead to 47-38 with a 26-23 second quarter, as Cansino hit two late triples just before the first half ended.
But, like in Game 1, TNT roared back in the third behind RR Pogoy’s 12-point effort. Unlike Game 1, though, Meralco didn’t fold this time, as Cansino and Chris Banchero connived to keep the Bolts ahead in the face of the Tropa’s searing rally. Meralco’s defense also held up to keep that lead within seven points until the final buzzer.
Who Stood Out?
Banchero and Cansino led the way for the Bolts in Game 3, with each finishing with 18 markers. Crucially, the two guards made timely baskets, particularly in the fourth quarter, to power the Bolts’ offense.
Starring for TNT, meanwhile, was Pogoy, who nearly willed the Tropa to a Game 3 win with a game-high 28 points, including 21 in the second half alone. Unfortunately for Pogoy, he couldn’t get enough help from his ka-Tropa to complete the comeback.
3 Keys to the Game
- Defense. Meralco’s calling card, again, was defense, and that held true in Game 3 as the Bolts limited the normally prolific TNT offense to just 89 points—20 fewer than in Game 2. Meralco also held the Tropa to just 37.9% shooting overall while holding Calvin Oftana to 6 markers and Jordan Heading scoreless.
- Three-point shooting. After hitting just one triple in Game 2, Meralco buried 8 of their 17 attempts from the arc in Game 3 to at least match the 10 that TNT hit from downtown. Crucially, hitting the long ball opened up driving lanes for Banchero, Cansino, and even Chris Newsome, who added 17 in the win.
- Poise. For a stretch in Game 3, it looked like Meralco would collapse again as the Tropa threatened to complete their second-half rally with Pogoy leading the way. But the Bolts hung tough, made the right plays, and continued playing great defense to avert another meltdown.
Next Up for the PBA
The PBA Philippine Cup shifts to the Mall of Asia Arena on Sunday with a pair of Game 4s. Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and the San Miguel Beermen will continue their series in the first game, followed by Game 4 of the TNT versus Meralco showdown.
Ginebra vs. San Miguel (5:15 p.m.)
Meralco vs. TNT (7:30 p.m.)
