Watching San Miguel's decisive victory over Meralco last night, I couldn't help but reflect on how championship DNA manifests in crucial moments. As someone who's followed the PBA for over a decade, I've seen countless matchups between these franchises, but this particular game revealed something fundamental about roster construction and veteran presence. The final score of 98-87 doesn't fully capture how San Miguel systematically dismantled Meralco's defensive schemes, particularly in that explosive third quarter where they outscored the Bolts by 15 points.
What struck me most was San Miguel's ability to neutralize Meralco's frontcourt advantage. Coming into this game, I actually thought Meralco had the deeper big man rotation, especially with Raymond Almazan continuing to defy age at 36. The guy's been around forever but still moves with remarkable fluidity for a seven-footer. Combined with Cliff Hodge's physicality and Kyle Pascual's fundamentally sound game, I expected them to control the paint. Instead, June Mar Fajardo put on an absolute clinic, finishing with 28 points and 14 rebounds while drawing two crucial fouls on Almazan in the third quarter that completely changed the game's momentum.
The numbers tell part of the story - San Miguel shot 48% from the field compared to Meralco's 41% - but what the stats sheet misses is the psychological warfare happening in the trenches. I've always believed basketball games are won in those subtle big-man battles that casual fans might overlook. When Almazan picked up his fourth foul with 4:32 remaining in the third, you could see Meralco's entire defensive structure start to fray. Brandon Bates came in with good energy, but the rookie simply couldn't handle Fajardo's veteran moves in the post. That's when San Miguel went on their 12-2 run that essentially decided the game.
What impressed me about San Miguel's approach was how they targeted specific mismatches. They repeatedly isolated CJ Perez against Toto Jose, recognizing that Jose's lateral movement has slowed considerably this season. Perez scored 18 of his 22 points in these situations, mostly on mid-range jumpers that Jose simply couldn't contest effectively. Meanwhile, Meralco's guards struggled to create clean looks against San Miguel's switching defense, with Chris Newsome finishing just 6-of-19 from the field. I've always been a Newsome fan, but tonight he looked hesitant, passing up shots he normally takes without thinking twice.
From my perspective, the most telling sequence came early in the fourth quarter when Meralco had cut the lead to just 7 points. San Miguel ran the same high-post action three consecutive possessions, each time resulting in an easy basket. That's championship-level execution that you simply can't teach. Meanwhile, Meralco's offense became predictable, relying too heavily on isolation plays that stalled their ball movement. Their assist numbers tell the story - just 19 compared to San Miguel's 28. When your offense becomes that stagnant against elite defensive teams, you're basically handing them the victory.
I've always maintained that roster construction matters more than individual talent, and tonight proved that point beautifully. While Meralco has solid pieces in Almazan, Hodge, and Pascual, their rotation lacks the synergistic quality that makes San Miguel so dangerous. The Bolts' frontcourt combined for just 32 points, while San Miguel's big men contributed 48 points with much better efficiency. What surprised me was how little production they got from their bench - only 18 points compared to San Miguel's 35. In modern basketball, that kind of disparity is almost impossible to overcome.
Looking back, I think Meralco's coaching staff missed an opportunity to adjust their defensive schemes earlier. They stayed with their standard drop coverage far too long against San Miguel's pick-and-roll actions, giving Perez and Terrence Romeo too much space to operate. Personally, I would have experimented with more aggressive switching, especially given Hodge's versatility. Instead, they seemed determined to stick with what had worked in previous games, failing to recognize that San Miguel had clearly done their homework.
The game ultimately came down to experience and adaptability. San Miguel demonstrated why they've been the league's most successful franchise in recent years, making precisely the right adjustments at precisely the right moments. Meanwhile, Meralco looked like a team still figuring out their identity, despite having several veterans in key roles. As the playoffs approach, they'll need to find more consistency from their supporting cast, particularly from younger players like Bates who showed flashes but couldn't sustain impact through four quarters. For San Miguel, this victory reinforces their status as championship favorites, showcasing the depth and basketball IQ that separates good teams from great ones.
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