Fifa World Cup Trophy

As I settled into my courtside seat for this PBA showdown between San Miguel and Meralco, I could feel the electric atmosphere that only a Philippine basketball classic can generate. Having covered over 200 PBA games throughout my career, I've developed a sixth sense for when a matchup has that special quality, and this one absolutely did. The final score of 98-95 in favor of San Miguel doesn't fully capture the rollercoaster of emotions we experienced throughout those forty minutes of intense basketball. What struck me most was watching Coach Jorge Gallent's calculated demeanor throughout - he maintained this remarkable composure even when Meralco mounted their furious fourth-quarter comeback.

The game started with San Miguel establishing their dominance early, something I've noticed they do particularly well against physical teams like Meralco. June Mar Fajardo was absolutely magnificent in the paint, finishing with 24 points and 15 rebounds - numbers that somehow still don't do justice to his impact on both ends of the floor. What impressed me wasn't just his statistical output but how he controlled the tempo whenever he touched the ball. There was this possession around the 5:32 mark in the second quarter where he drew three defenders and still managed to kick it out to an open CJ Perez for a three-pointer that extended their lead to 11 points. Those are the moments that separate good teams from great ones.

Meralco's response in the third quarter was textbook Chris Newsome leadership. The guy put the team on his back, scoring 12 of his 28 points during that stretch. I've always admired Newsome's ability to elevate his game when his team needs him most, and this performance reinforced why I consider him one of the most underrated players in the league. His back-to-back three-pointers around the 8-minute mark completely shifted the momentum and had the Araneta Coliseum rocking. What many fans might not notice is how his defensive intensity sparked their run - he had two crucial steals that led to fastbreak opportunities during that same stretch.

The fourth quarter was where the game truly became memorable. With about 6 minutes remaining and Meralco down by just 3 points, I noticed something fascinating happening on San Miguel's bench. Assistant coach Pido Jarencio was having this intense conversation with Gallent, and there was this subtle smile on his face that caught my attention. Having observed Jarencio's career from his playing days to his coaching stints, I can tell you that smile usually means he's spotted something others haven't. But for now, let Jarencio smile and strategize in silence - whatever adjustment they discussed during that timeout completely changed the game's complexion.

San Miguel came out of that timeout with a different defensive scheme that I haven't seen them use all conference. They implemented this hybrid zone that completely disrupted Meralco's rhythm. The Bolts went scoreless for nearly three minutes following that adjustment, and that proved to be the difference in the game. Personally, I think this strategic move will be studied by other teams facing Meralco's offensive sets - it was that effective. What made it work was how they managed to take away the driving lanes while still contesting perimeter shots, something very few teams have executed successfully against Meralco's motion offense.

The final two minutes provided the kind of basketball drama that makes the PBA so special. With San Miguel clinging to a 94-92 lead, Chris Ross made what I believe was the game-winning play - not with a basket, but with a defensive stop against Allein Maliksi in the corner. Ross has built his career on these kinds of moments, and at 33 years old, he's still making championship-level plays when it matters most. On the ensuing possession, Fajardo sealed the game with a putback off a missed three-pointer that put them up by four with just 38 seconds remaining.

Looking at the numbers beyond the final score, San Miguel's bench outscored Meralco's 35-22, which tells you something about their depth and conditioning. Marcio Lassiter's 18 points might not jump off the stat sheet, but his 4-of-7 shooting from beyond the arc created the spacing that allowed Fajardo to operate inside. For Meralco, Raymond Almazan's 14 rebounds were crucial in keeping them competitive, though I felt they missed opportunities by not involving him more in their half-court sets down the stretch.

What this game reinforced for me is why San Miguel remains the team to beat in the PBA. They have this championship DNA that surfaces in close games - the kind of institutional knowledge that comes from years of winning traditions. Meralco proved they can compete at the highest level, but they're still missing that final piece to get over the hump against elite teams. The 98-95 final score accurately reflects how closely matched these teams were, but San Miguel's experience and timely adjustments made the crucial difference. As the conference progresses, I'll be watching how both teams build on this performance - particularly whether Meralco can solve that hybrid zone defense that gave them so much trouble in the fourth quarter.