Breaking down Game One

If Game One was an indication of how the rest of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals best-of-seven series will go, expect a thrilling and barn-burning climax.  Meralco drew first blood, upending San Miguel Beer, 93-86, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last Wednesday and Game Two is set in the same venue tonight.

Game One was marked by 10 lead changes and 11 ties with Meralco leading in 13:40 minutes and San Miguel, 28:01. The largest advantage of either side was 10 points. San Miguel was in the driver’s seat the entire first half and Meralco had the edge in 10:49 of the fourth quarter.  San Miguel fired 51 points at the half then was held to only 35 the rest of the way, 14 in the payoff period. The final score was a testament to Meralco’s stifling defense. Here are 10 factors that explain how Meralco did it.

• Wear out June Mar. Meralco threw a battery of defenders on June Mar Fajardo who played without relief in the third period. JMF logged 39:21 minutes and showing signs of trouble against the Bolts’ defenders, had six turnovers. He still delivered 23 points but missed five free throws in 14 attempts.

• More possessions, more attempts. San Miguel had five more turnovers and Meralco, six more offensive rebounds, giving the Bolts a huge margin in field goal tries, 88-72.

• Efficiency in execution. San Miguel registered an assist-to-turnover ratio of 18:19 compared to Meralco’s 23:14, showing which team was more efficient in executing its offense.

• CJ’s foul trouble. At the half, CJ Perez was saddled with four personals. He sat out about 14 minutes in the second and third quarters, disrupting his rhythm. Perez finished with 20 points but shot only three in the last period. He was held to two-of-seven from the floor in the second half.

• Transition attack. Meralco went on a running spree in the fourth quarter, scoring 10 fastbreak points to San Miguel’s zero. Down the stretch, the Beermen had little gas left in their tank. The Bolts took the period, 23-14 and it provided the cushion for the win.

• Balanced offense. Four Bolts scored in double figures (Chris Newsome, Chris Banchero, Allein Maliksi, Bong Quinto) compared to San Miguel’s three (JMF, CJ, Marcio Lassiter). San Miguel missed Terrence Romeo’s services and his 12.3 scoring average.

• Deeper rotation. Meralco rotated 13 players with only five logging at least 20 minutes. San Miguel rotated 10 players but seven logged at least 20 minutes. In a battle of attrition, the team with the deeper bench has the edge.

• Caram steps up. With Aaron Black sidelined, Anjo Caram registered quality minutes with nine points. He shot four of five from the field. His triple in the third quarter gave Meralco a 64-63 lead and his basket to open the fourth period tied the count, 72-all.

• Unsteady at the line. San Miguel missed nine free throws and lost by seven. In all, the Beermen hit 19 foul shots and the Bolts, eight.  If Meralco lost, the Bolts would’ve rued their eight-of-17 mark from the stripe.

• Hodge’s gutsy play. Cliff Hodge displayed an unflappable fighting spirit. He had seven points and 15 boards, including nine offensive, in 34:40 minutes with only one foul. It will take another bold effort from Hodge to bring Meralco another win in Game Two.