The Meralco Bolts and Magnolia Hotshots will face each other again, this time with higher stakes. For the Bolts, it’s an opportunity to get to the semis once again. For the Hotshots, it’s a chance to set up a do-or-die match for a semifinals seat in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
What makes this Meralco vs. Magnolia pairing so compelling is that these teams are so close statistically, and that could make for a thrilling game later. But just how close is close? Take a look:
106.0 to 106.7
Meralco and Magnolia are two of the best defensive teams in the PBA today, which isn’t surprising. The Bolts have been good on that end for a few years now, while the Hotshots are starting to develop a defense-first identity under LA Tenorio.
The stats bear that out as both teams are top five in defensive rating—or the number of points allowed per 100 possessions. At the end of the eliminations, Magnolia holds a 106.0 defensive rating, which is good enough for fourth stingiest in the league. Meralco isn’t far behind at fifth with a 106.7 defensive rating.
48.8 to 46.2
Curiously, the Hotshots and Bolts are also two of the best shooting teams in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup. In fact, they are No. 1 and 2 in that statistical category, with Magnolia shooting a league-best 48.8% followed by Meralco’s 46.2%.
Both teams’ true shooting is also above average, with the Hotshots boasting a 59.9% TS average and the Bolts finishing at 55.8%. The former mark is tops in the league, while the latter is third, just a few percentage points behind Barangay Ginebra San Miguel. These stats only mean one thing: both Magnolia and Meralco can defend—and shoot well.
38.3 to 35.3
That good shooting actually extends to the three-point line as Magnolia and Meralco are No. 1 and No. 3 in that area as well. For the conference, the Hotshots have shot 38.3% from beyond the arc, which is the best mark in the league. Meralco, meanwhile, is third-best, shooting 35.3% from distance.
This marksmanship, though, has a caveat as Meralco and Magnolia are at the bottom third in terms of volume. For the conference, the Hotshots have attempted the least from distance with an average of just 21.3 attempts. The Bolts, in contrast, attempt only 23.8 three-point shots a game. With this volume, Meralco (8.4 makes a game) and Magnolia (8.2 makes a game) are middle of the pack in made treys.
11.0 to 15.4
The Bolts’ biggest advantage stats-wise so far appears to be their ability to take care of the ball. Through 12 games this conference, in fact, Meralco has been best in the league in taking care of the ball, turning it over only 11 times per outing. Magnolia, in contrast, coughs it up 15.4 times a game, which is the 11th-worst mark in this tournament so far.
Given how close Magnolia and Meralco are statistically, this marked difference in turnovers per game could be something that could turn the tide for either team.
The Quarterfinals: (4) Meralco vs. (5) Magnolia
Meralco and Magnolia will cap off the day’s quarterfinals double-header at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. Tip-off will be at 7:30.
