Meralco is currently up 2-1 on San Miguel as the PBA Philippine Cup Finals enter a critical week.
No team has dominated the other in the ongoing Finals of the PBA Season 48 Philippine Cup.
But it appears Meralco has been in control since the series opener, refusing to give the San Miguel a moment of comfort from tip off to the final buzzer.
[Related: PBA: Chris Newsome comes up clutch as Meralco outlasts San Miguel to seize 2-1 Finals lead]
The team that takes pride in defense has lived up to expectations, holding the Beermen below their 107-point average in the first three encounters en route to a 2-1 series lead.
Had it not been for CJ Perez and Marcio Lassiter’s clutch three-pointers in Game 2, the Bolts would have been up 3-0 in the best-of-seven finale.
[Related: PBA: CJ Perez, Marcio Lassiter star as San Miguel levels Finals series against Meralco in Game 2]
But there’s no point in being comfortable now for Meralco since it’s a race-to-four series.
After all, no lead is safe against San Miguel, architect of the 2016 Philippine Cup “Beeracle.”
The winner of six of the last eight All-Filipino titles is not about to fold in the face of a series deficit, especially this early.
That’s why the succeeding games between the two proud franchises are only expected to be more highly-charged.
Check out this week’s schedule of games.
June 12 | Smart Araneta Coliseum
Game 4: San Miguel vs Meralco - 7:30pm
June 14 | Smart Araneta Coliseum
Game 5: Meralco vs San Miguel - 7:30pm
June 16 | Smart Araneta Coliseum
Game 6 (if necessary): San Miguel vs Meralco - 6:15pm