The Meralco Bolts displayed tenacious defense to outwit the mighty San Miguel Beermen in Game 1 of the PBA Season 48 Philippine Cup Finals on Wednesday, June 5.
It was a battle akin to David and Goliath's.
San Miguel, the winningest team in the league with 29 titles, against Meralco, a debutante in the PBA Philippine Cup final stage and gunning for its first-ever title.
The Beermen, who raced to the top with a 10-1 record versus the tenacious Bolts who shook off a shaky start to the conference and clawed their way up to waltz into the Last Dance.
But it was Meralco who dealt San Miguel its sole loss in the eliminations, one that denied the powerhouse squad of a rare sweep.
It was this same tenacity that the Bolts displayed in clamping down the Beermen in Game 1 to gain the headstart in their best-of-seven clash for crown on Wednesday, June 5, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
[RELATED STORY: PBA: June Mar Fajardo lauds Meralco's defense as San Miguel suffers Game 1 loss]
Meralco is out there to prove that defense wins championships, but it is still a long road to the gold.
As San Miguel, winner of the biggest prizes in the biggest stages, is expected to treat its latest loss as just a hiccup.
Photos (c) RM Chua/One Sports
Chris Banchero copped the Player of the Game honors in Meralco's Game 7 semis win over Ginebra and sustained his fine form en route to a Game 1 win in the finals this time against San Miguel.
Chris Newsome joined Chris Banchero in spearheading Meralco's charge.
Bolts coach Luigi Trillo earlier said that Brandon Bates will be a huge factor for the team.
June Mar Fajardo said that Meralco's defense bothered San Miguel, which stumbled to 19 turnovers.
Anjo Caram scored huge baskets and finished with nine points in Game 1.
Marcio Lassiter added three treys to his all-time three-point haul.
Rodney Brondial coughed up four points in a little more than 14 minutes of action.
Jericho Cruz was limited to just five points.
Bong Quinto was among the Meralco quartet that connived in its huge Game 1 victory over San Miguel.
The Meralco bigs, including Raymond Almazan, got their job done against San Miguel behemoth June Mar Fajardo.