The Meralco Bolts look for a rare playoff series win against rival Ginebra in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner's Cup.
The Meralco Bolts are fired up to finish the job and finally get one more over Brgy. Ginebra San Miguel as they battle in a high-stakes Game 3 of their PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals series on Sunday, Feb. 9.
The highly-anticipated match starts at 7:30 p.m. at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
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With a semifinals spot on the line, Meralco enters the do-or-die clash with newfound confidence following a 108-104 victory in Game 2, which evened the series after dropping Game 1, 100-92.
A major turning point for the Bolts was the improved performance of import Akil Mitchell, who finally looked like his usual self after looking uncomfortable with a nagging back injury.
Mitchell recorded a triple-double, tallying 13 points, 17 rebounds, and 10 assists, providing the steady presence Meralco needed to stay alive.
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While Mitchell’s all-around brilliance was crucial, it was Jansen Rios who delivered in the clutch for the Bolts. Rios, who has seen limited minutes this conference, made the most of his opportunity by scoring 15 points, including six in the fourth quarter, to help Meralco withstand Ginebra’s last-ditch rally.
Now, the Bolts are eager to make history by eliminating Ginebra for just the third time in 10 playoff meetings since the 2016 Governors’ Cup Finals.
With Mitchell looking fully recovered, the Bolts’ local crew stepping up, and momentum on their side, Meralco hopes to pull off the upset and move one step closer to the team's championship aspirations.
[ALSO READ: Victolero expects more from rookie Jerom Lastimosa in coming PBA PH Cup: 'We need him badly’]
(With reports from Jan Ballesteros)
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[Editor's note: This article was written by a member of the One Sports Digital with the help of AI, and then checked by the staff to ensure accuracy.]