Meralco dragged its best-of-seven PBA Season 48 Philippine Cup joust with Ginebra to a sudden death.
Allein Maliksi and Chris Newsome came up big in the homestretch as Meralco derailed Ginebra, 86-81, in Game Six of their PBA Season 48 Philippine Cup semifinal showdown at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao on Wednesday, May 29.
Maliksi produced nine points of the Bolts’ last 13 points, with Newsome accounting for four on crucial free throws that shut the door on the Gin Kings and dragged the series to a sudden death.
Maliksi finished with 14 points, all in the second half.
It was Bong Quinto, though, who topscored for Meralco with 23 points. Newsome turned in 21 but went 6-of-21 from the field.
Game Seven is set on Friday, May 31, at the FPJ Arena in San Jose, Batangas.
“We just have to focus on that last game. It’s a treat for the PBA fans kasi I think it’s the first time that [Game 7] will be out of town. I think its good for the PBA that it will be out of town,” said Meralco coach Luigi Trillo.
Ginebra gave the Bolts a scare in the waning seconds, with Maverick Ahanmisi and Stanley Pringle hitting a pair of three-pointers that allowed the Gin Kings to close in, 84-81.
But time just wasn’t on their side.
With 5.7 left on the clock, Newsome made the pressure-packed free throws to seal the victory.
Christian Standhardinger and Japeth Aguilar towed Ginebra with 19 points each and comibined for 15 rebounds.
Ahanmisi scored 13, while Pringle chimed in 12 markers, four rebounds, two assists, and the same number of steals.
The Scores:
MERALCO 86 – Quinto 23, Newsome 21, Maliksi 14, Hodge 10, Banchero 9, Almazan 7, Bates 2, Pascual 0, Caram 0, Jose 0
GINEBRA 81 – J.Aguilar 19, Standhardinger 19, Ahanmisi 13, Pringle 12, Thompson 9, Tenorio 3, Pinto 3, Cu 3, Murrell 0, Pessumal 0,
Quarterscores: 19-18, 38-37, 54-53, 86-81