HIGHLIGHTS: PBA Finals Game 3 San Miguel vs Meralco

2024 PBA Philippine Cup Finals schedule (Game 3)

Smart Araneta Coliseum

6:15 p.m. – San Miguel Beermen vs Meralco Bolts

FULL SCHEDULE HERE.

Meralco Bolts forward Cliff Hodge during Game 3 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals against the San Miguel Beermen.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—Meralco has been doing almost everything right in the PBA Philippine Cup Finals so far.

The Bolts on Sunday regained the upper hand in their best-of-seven series with the San Miguel Beermen after a pulsating win in Game 3 and while it was Chris Newsome’s late 3-pointer that propelled them to victory, winning the rebounding battle was another reason why they’re halfway there to a breakthrough championship.

San Miguel Beermen’s CJ Perez during Game 3 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals against the Meralco Bolts.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—Unlike the first three games of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals, San Miguel and Meralco will have more time to prepare and recover heading into Wednesday’s Game 4.

That’s exactly what the Beermen need, especially June Mar Fajardo, according to CJ Perez after a 93-89 loss in Game 3.

San Miguel Beer’s Marcio Lassiter after the loss. @INQUIRERSports #PBAFinals

They now trail the series, 2-1. pic.twitter.com/iKlPfhLLQH

— Rommel Fuertes Jr. (@MeloFuertesINQ) June 9, 2024

VIDEO: Meralco Bolts post-game interview after beating San Miguel Beermen in Game 3 of PBA Finals

Meralco coach Luigi Trillo and Chris Newsome after taking a 2-1 lead in the #PBAFinals. @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/otu10O1fne

— Rommel Fuertes Jr. (@MeloFuertesINQ) June 9, 2024

Chris Newsome and the Meralco Bolts after beating the San Miguel Beermen in Game 3 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—Meralco defeated San Miguel in Game 3 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals in familiar fashion on Sunday night.

With the game on the line, Chris Newsome drilled a go-ahead triple from the corner with 34 seconds to go that turned out to be the dagger in the Bolts’ 93-89 escape for a 2-1 lead in their best-of-seven title series.

Meralco Bolts’ Chris Newsome shoots during Game 3 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals against the San Miguel Beermen.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines–Meralco played splendid basketball on both ends on Sunday night for a gutsy 93-89 Game 3 victory over San Miguel and a 2-1 lead in the PBA Philippine Cup best-of-seven championship series.

The Bolts saw all of their starters finish in double-digit scores while clamping down on the Beermen’s top guns in yet another tightly-contested duel at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

BALLGAME. ⚡️

FINAL: Meralco stuns San Miguel in Game 3 to lead the series, 2-1. #PBAFinals | @MeloFuertesINQ pic.twitter.com/6sxptGPxOK

— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) June 9, 2024

NEWNEW!!! ⚡️⚡️⚡️

Chris Newsome sinks a huge triple to lift Meralco up, 91-89, with 34.1 to go. @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/TzBAQAzBmI

— Rommel Fuertes Jr. (@MeloFuertesINQ) June 9, 2024

WHAT. A. SEQUENCE.

Meralco turns the ball over. The ball went into June Mar Fajardo’s hands in the SMB possession only to get fouled by Raymond Almazan…

Who FOULS OUT.

Bolts lead, 88-87, with 51.9 to go. @INQUIRERSports #PBAFinals pic.twitter.com/XHkBYDjh8E

— Rommel Fuertes Jr. (@MeloFuertesINQ) June 9, 2024

MERALCO NATION STAND UP ⚡️

Cliff Hodge cleans the mess for Meralco.

Looks to be another cardiac finish in the Big Dome. Score’d tied at 77-all with 7:00 to go. @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/a3JwzVddJj

— Rommel Fuertes Jr. (@MeloFuertesINQ) June 9, 2024

THE SMB CROWD IS LOVING IT 🍻

CJ Perez sinks a layup plus a foul to tie the game at 75-all with 8:24 to go in the fourth. @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/DBMkHRCFIR

— Rommel Fuertes Jr. (@MeloFuertesINQ) June 9, 2024

Meralco leads San Miguel Beer, 71-70, after three #PBAFinals @INQUIRERSports

— Jonas Terrado (@jonasterradoINQ) June 9, 2024

Meralco with a 48-46 halftime lead over San Miguel Beer in Game 3 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals at Smart Araneta Coliseum @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/ICDtRUA7N1

— Jonas Terrado (@jonasterradoINQ) June 9, 2024

THINGS GETTING HEATED IN GAME 3

Jeron Teng and Allein Maliksi got into each other’s faces. Double techs for both due to verbal altercation.

Beermen up, 39-38, with 2:49 to go in the first half. #PBAFinals @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/3z2pECMs1J

— Rommel Fuertes Jr. (@MeloFuertesINQ) June 9, 2024

JT FOR THREEE

Jeron Teng sinks a triple for San Miguel.

They lead, 37-36, in the second quarter with 4:26 to go. @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/qZLTXJ3jkl

— Rommel Fuertes Jr. (@MeloFuertesINQ) June 9, 2024

Here comes the GOAT. 🍻

June Mar Fajardo joins the San Miguel Beermen in their preparation for Game 3. @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/7J2uCgBVKZ

— Rommel Fuertes Jr. (@MeloFuertesINQ) June 9, 2024

Allen Maliksi runs out of the Meralco dugout to warmup for an all-important Game 3. #PBAFinals @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/9L57n1xbtH

— Rommel Fuertes Jr. (@MeloFuertesINQ) June 9, 2024

San Miguel Beermen swingman Marcio Lassiter celebrates with his teammates late in Game 2 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals against the Meralco Bolts.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Frosty for most of Friday night, San Miguel Beer marksman Marcio Lassiter came through in the final moments of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals, bailing the much-fancied Beermen out from what would have been a 0-2 hole against hard-fighting Meralco.

Despite a 1-for-7 shooting going into that final play, Lassiter hit a step-back triple from the left wing with 13.2 seconds remaining to give the Beermen the lead. It turned out to be the basket the defending champions needed to ultimately level the best-of-seven championship series to a game apiece.

San Miguel Beer’s CJ Perez tries to score against Meralco’s Chris Newsome in Game 2 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

As much as Cliff Hodge described the heartbreaking loss Meralco absorbed in Game 2 of the PBA Philippine Cup as “just one game,” there’s also a reason for the Bolts to pity themselves for the missed chance of getting another win over San Miguel Beer.

“We should have won that. We had them on the ropes,” Hodge said before acknowledging the way the Beermen were able to pull off an escape act, 95-94, at Smart Araneta Coliseum.