Expect a dogfight between Meralco and San Miguel when Game 6 of the PBA Season 48 Philippine Cup Finals unfurls on Sunday, June 16.
Failure is part of the grand design.
That’s what Chris Newsome clings to as he eyes his and Meralco’s first-ever title in the PBA.
After suffering one heartbreak after another against Ginebra in the finals, Newsome has picked up a thing or two from those setbacks which he is using in the ongoing Season 48 Philippine Cup finale against no less than San Miguel.
Chris Newsome reacts during Meralco's Game 5 battle against San Miguel last Friday, June 14. | Photo (c) Sherwin Vardeleon
Newsome is hopeful the Bolts will make a breakthrough this time.
“Those losses we’ve had previously, they hurt. They help to teach a lesson. Hopefully we respond well to the situation at hand and take advantage of the situation at hand,” Newsome said after their 92-88 Game 5 win over the Beermen on Friday, June 14.
[ALSO READ: PBA: With the rest of Meralco stepping up on scoring, Chris Newsome puts focus on defense on fellow Gilas mainstay CJ Perez]
But what is ahead of them could be the toughest game of their lives.
Closing out the series is a different challenge altogether, especially against a team that is no stranger to overcoming a deficit.
In recent history, San Miguel has proven time and again that it could display championship poise even in the face of an imminent defeat and actually turn things around when they most mattered.
There’s the “Beeracle” in the 2016 Philippine Cup, where the team’s famed “Death Five” overhauled a 0-3 hole against Alaska in the finals series and went on to win the title.
San Miguel also found itself in a 2-3 pit in the 2019 and 2022 Philippine Cup Last Dance against Magnolia and TNT, respectively, but ended up claiming the championship each time.
“By no means this is a done series at all. As you can see, no one’s won back-to-back games in this series. That's the challenge ahead of us right now, try to win back-to-back games,” said Newsome.
[ALSO READ: PBA: Allein Maliksi bares motivation as he regains shooting touch in Meralco’s Game 5 win over San Miguel]
But history is also on Meralco’s side. According to the league's chief statistician Fidel Mangonon, 79 percent or 15 out of 19 of the teams which won Game 5 after a 2-all standoff proceeded to hoist the trophy.
The only number that matters to Newsome now, though, is the final score of Game 6.
“For us, we need more motivation and more dedication to overcome that. We understand the situation. We know what they’re going to come with now,” he said.
“It’s on us to stay focused and don’t let the situation allow us to take us out of our execution and what we need to do as a team. Just focus on every situation and the rest will happen.”
[ALSO READ: 'Hindi namin basta-bastang ibibigay': June Mar Fajardo unfazed despite San Miguel's precarious position in PBA Finals vs. Meralco]
San Miguel main man June Mar Fajardo, who finished with season-high 38 points he spiked with 18 rebounds Friday, is eyeing payback.
“Pagsisipagan namin 'yung next game. Gusto naming makuha 'yung championship, he. Hindi namin basta-bastang ibibigay 'yun,” said Fajardo.
Game 6 kicks off at 6:15pm at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Sunday, June 16.