Meralco is bracing for a San Miguel fightback, but it is determined to hold its ground as Game 4 of the PBA Season 48 Philippine Cup unfurls today, June 12.
Meralco looks to ride the momentum of its huge Game 3 victory against San Miguel as they reach the halfway mark of their best-of-seven battle for the PBA Season 48 Philippine Cup crown.
The Bolts, now holding a 2-1 lead following their 93-89 win last Sunday, June 9, aim to build a bigger distance against the mighty Beermen and draw closer to their much coveted first-ever title in the league.
[RELATED STORY: IN PHOTOS: Meralco finishes strong, snags Game 3 win over San Miguel in PBA Philippine Cup Finals]
Game 4 unfurls on Wednesday, June 12 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Tipoff is at 7:30 p.m.
Tensions rise as Allein Maliksi of Meralco and San Miguel's Jeron Teng get entangled in a heated exchange during Game 3 last Sunday, June 9. | Photo (c) RM Chua
Though Meralco boasts of a 3-1 head-to-head against San Miguel this conference, including a sweep-denying victory in the eliminations, the Bolts still have much to address and improve, according to gunner Allein Maliksi.
“Ang dami pa rin talaga naming lapses. Ang dami naming mali. Nagalit nga si coach (Luigi Trillo) sa amin kasi medyo mental lapses na dapat maayos namin 'yun, eh,” said Maliksi after Meralco's 93-86 Game 3 win at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Taking care of a finals series lead could be one of them.
The Bolts have previously held a 2-1 edge in a best-of-seven finals twice and lost both times.
[ALSO READ: PBA: Raymond Almazan bounces back with strong offensive game as Meralco takes 2-1 Finals lead vs. San Miguel]
The job, therefore, is far from done.
“Adjustment pa rin coming into the next game. Wala pa naman. Malayo pa 'to. Wala pa 'yung nakukuha namin. Hindi pa tapos 'yung trabaho,” Maliksi said.
San Miguel's CJ Perez reacts during Game 3 | Photo (c) RM Chua
But the defending champion Beermen are hell-bent on levelling the affair.
[ALSO READ: ‘Talagang mintis siya’: CJ Perez refuses to make excuses after crucial miss in SMB's Game 3 PBA Finals loss]
“Sobrang crucial 'yun (Game 4) kasi ayaw naming madikdik talaga. Kailangan namin ng mataas na energy para matalo ang Meralco,” said San Miguel gunner CJ Perez.