Meralco and Phoenix will run it back for a do-or-die showdown.
Bong Quinto conjured some magic in the extra periods as the Meralco Bolts survive the Phoenix Fuel Masters in a triple overtime classic Wednesday, forcing the first knockout game of the PBA Season 48 Commissioner's Cup playoffs.
Quinto hit two booming treys in the third overtime, the first to give Meralco a much-needed six point lead with 3:37 to go, and the second a cold-blooded strike with 37.4 seconds left to seal a 116-107 win.
The Bolts victory set up the rematch for Sunday, the winner moving on to the semifinals.
Meralco actually recovered from a 15-point fourth quarter deficit behind Aaron Black, who hit some timely three-pointers before Tyler Tio canned a pair of pressure-packed freebies to give Phoenix an 84-81 breather with 8.9 ticks to go.
But it was Chris Newsome who salvaged the Bolts from the jaws of defeat, with a booming three-pointer of his own that beat the buzzer and forced the game's first overtime.
In the first extra session, Phoenix appeared set for victory when Tyler Tio put the Fuel Masters up 95-93 with a clutch three of his own. But the Bolts refused to go away, with Black scoring on a jumper with the final 23 seconds to force a second overtime.
"A lot of heroes in this game... We've been in this situation before. I think we have to keep that momentum going," said Meralco coach Luigi Trillo.
Cliff Hodge actually led Meralco in scoring with 20 points, but he hurt his ankle after scoring on a crucial putback with over two minutes left in the first overtime. Quinto finishined with 19 while Shonn Miller, Allein Maliksi, and Black scored 18 points apiece. Chris Newsome added 16 points, seven rebounds, four assists for a strong team effort by the Bolts.
After the crucial Newsome and Black baskets to force two overtimes, Phoenix still had the chance to bag the win in the second OT, but Johnathan Williams muffed two go-ahead free throws with 8.2 seconds left.
Neverthless, Williams carried a heavy load for the Fuel Masters, going for 24 points and 24 rebounds in 62 minutes, the third most in PBA history. Jason Perkins and Tio added 20 points each for Phoenix.