By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.

 

THE first game of this year’s PBA Governor’s Cup’s ‘best-of-seven’ championship series started last Wednesday (April 6) and the underdog Meralco Bolts convincingly won in the first confrontation, 104-91 held at Araneta Coliseum. That dominating game that saw the re-charged Meralco five taking all the quarters, 25-23, 53-42, 78-60, never slowed down to the end. (And by the time you read this piece, the second and third games were already done.) But I’m sure the series will be played more than four games.

Honestly, the first game did not bother me much because the first tiff was just for a figuration and measurement of aptitude for both teams. But what concerned me most was the semifinals’ fifth and final game between the Meralco Bolts and the Magnolia Hotshots last April 1. That do-or-die match between the two title contenders unexpectedly turned into a very physical game from the start to the final buzzer. It almost resulted in a melee because the tension-filled hostility injured Magnolia’s reliable import Mike Harris with 8:55 minutes left in the fourth and final quarter. We saw how Harris received an unintended elbow to the face that caused his fall and bloodied his mouth. He had to be helped off the court by his teammates Rafi Reavis and James Laput, limping to the dressing room.

Harris’ injury sidelined him for good and I believe that caused Magnolia’s defeat by 13 points, 94-81.

Remember, Magnolia led at every end of the first three quarters, and I believe Harris’ second fall had the biggest impact on the team. In the first half, we saw how Harris first crashed to the floor after a rebound and he suffered a whiplash with his head landing first on the floorboard. But the hulky Harris just shrugged it off though he was visibly in pain. Though Harris ended converting a poor 2-7 from the field, he continued to play gallantly, rebounding effectively that made Meralco unable to stage a breakaway in the first three quarters. Remember the basketball adage that says, “defense is offense.?” I certainly agree. But sans Harris for good in the fourth, it was a different story from then on.

The skirmishes made me reminisce the Toyota-Crispa title rivalry during the early days of PBA. Every time the two giant teams clashed with each other especially in a title match, tensions were always high.  Aside from minor but ugly scuffles during the games, there was one game that resulted in chaos – when the referee was punched by basketball superstars Robert Jaworski and Big Boy Reynoso because of poor officiating by one of the arbiters. Anyway, that’s already water under the bridge. It’s just a recollection.

Meralco’s victory prompted it to face the defending champions Ginebra Gin Kings anew, in the best-of-seven series that started last April 6. I believe this will be the fourth championship meetings of the two that saw Meralco, mentored by Norman Black, succumbing thrice, in 2016, 2017 and 2019, to arch-enemy, the Tim Cone-coached Ginebra Gin Kings. Ginebra entered the Finals by easily defeating semifinals foe NLEX in four games last March 30, also at the big dome.

Experts foresee a very physical game in the championship match. I think so, too, especially if the championship tilt reaches the seventh and final tiff. Bashers say that will be started by title-hungry Meralco.

Let’s just watch, wait and see.

*          *          *          *

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for dust you are, and to dust you shall return.” GENESIS 3: 19

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments