Chapter 4 a mystery
Meralco survived a highly emotional and physical winner-take-all Game 5 of its PBA Governors› Cup semis series against Magnolia to book another showdown with Ginebra in the bestof-seven Finals to start at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday. It will be the fourth meeting between fourth seed Meralco and sixth seed Ginebra in the Last Dance of the third conference.
The Hotshots led at the end of every quarter until the Bolts regrouped to carve out a 94-81 decision in clinching their tie last Friday. Mike Harris took an inadvertent elbow on the face with 8:55 left and was knocked down like Ricky Hatton blasted by Manny Pacquiao. Harris was glassy-eyed as he was helped off the court by teammates Rafi Reavis and James Laput. A stretcher was rushed to his side but Harris waved it off, presumably not to alarm his teammates because the game wasn’t over. There was blood in his mouth as he was escorted back to the locker room, walking slowly to keep his balance. Harris refused to be brought to a hospital and returned to the Magnolia bench to cheer for his teammates until the end. It was his second fall in the contest. In the first half, he crashed to the floor after a rebounding skirmish and suffered a whiplash with his head hitting the hardwood. Harris was later brought to Cardinal Santos Hospital in an ambulance.
Neither Harris nor Meralco counterpart Tony Bishop was a factor in the contest. Defenders were all over the imports, making it difficult for them to get good looks. Harris wound up shooting 2-of-7 from the field and Bishop, 3-of-18. They hadn’t scored less than double figures previously. With the imports neutralized, the locals stepped up to decide the outcome. Harris left for good with Meralco on top, 73-67, then the Bolts erected a 13-point edge and the Hotshots never got closer than six. With Harris out, Meralco outscored Magnolia, 21-14.
The Finals will be Chapter 4 in a mystery book with Japeth Aguilar and Chris Banchero unsure of playing. Justin Brownlee, Scottie Thompson and LA Tenorio averaged at least 40 minutes in the semis against NLEX with Christian Standhardinger close at 36:48. Coach Norman Black has a deeper rotation and in a long series, Meralco will bring out fresher legs. Brownlee, however, is an extraordinary athlete who has won four titles in seven conferences with Ginebra. The St. John’s University star turns it on when the stakes are high like he did in firing 47 in the NLEX closer. Besides, coach Tim Cone has a knack of pacing his key players to preserve them for the kill. Meralco bowed to Ginebra thrice in the Finals with Allen Durham. Now, Black has a Bishop with the chance to checkmate Ginebra.