SCHEDULE: 2024 PBA Philippine Cup semifinals
Meralco Bolts coach Luigi Trillo in the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals game against GInebra Gin Kings. –PBA IMAGES
MANILA, Philippines–With the help of its bench mob, Meralco has pulled ahead of the more favored Ginebra side in their PBA Philippine Cup semifinals series.
The Bolts stunned Ginebra in Game 3, 87-80, to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven duel with the second stringers powering them through, according to coach Luigi Trillo.
“Our bench is big. Everything is earned here in the semis. We know how tough it can be but it’s important that our bench knows what we’re doing, game plan-wise. They have to do what we’re doing, execution-wise,” said Trillo at Dasmariñas City Arena in Cavite on Wednesday night.
READ: PBA: Meralco hangs on to beat Ginebra for 2-1 semis lead
“Today we were a little bit more sound in what we’re doing.”
Meralco got a huge boost from its secondary units with 31 points to take one over second-seeded Ginebra.
While Chris Newsome and Allein Maliksi did what they do best, scoring in bunches with 14 and 16 points, respectively, the Bolts bench sustained the squad’s explosive start.
READ: PBA: Chris Newsome channels inner Kobe in Meralco series vs Ginebra
Bong Quinto led the second unit with 10 points. Anjo Caram, meanwhile, scored six and Brandon Bates is slowly showing his worth with six points and nine rebounds in the victory.
Maliksi, who caught fire with three buckets from beyond the arc, had to laud the supporting cast for their crucial role in moving two wins away from the PBA Finals.
“I give credit to the second group and second unit… We started great but they continued it. Give credit to them,” sid the sweet-shooting forward. ” “We’re talking and communicating with each other. We’re lifting each other’s confidence. All of us really support each other.”
The Bolts look to go up even more on Friday when Game 4 rolls on at Mall of Asia Arena.