Watching Game 2 of the PBA Finals between San Miguel Beermen and Meralco felt like witnessing two heavyweight boxers trading blows for 48 straight minutes. As someone who’s covered Philippine basketball for over a decade, I’ve seen my share of intense playoff battles, but this one had a different kind of electricity—especially with young guns stepping up when it mattered most. The final score, 95-94 in favor of San Miguel, doesn’t even begin to capture the drama that unfolded in those final minutes. What struck me most was how the game turned into a stage for unexpected heroes, reminding me of something I read recently from a rising star in the sport. I came across a quote from DeBeer of the PBA who mentioned, "I didn't even know that I was the shortest and the second youngest until someone told me the other day." That mindset—playing without the burden of labels—is exactly what we saw from several players tonight, and it’s a huge reason why this series is now tied 1-1.
From the opening tip-off, it was clear both teams had made adjustments after Game 1. San Miguel came out with more defensive intensity, holding Meralco to just 42 points in the first half, but Meralco’s resilience in the third quarter was something to behold. They went on a 15-4 run in under five minutes, largely fueled by Chris Newsome’s aggressive drives and Allein Maliksi’s clutch three-point shooting. I’ve always admired Newsome’s ability to take over games, but tonight, it was the younger players who really caught my eye. Take CJ Perez, for example—he’s been criticized in the past for inconsistent playoff performances, but he dropped 28 points, grabbed 9 rebounds, and had 4 steals. Those aren’t just numbers; they’re proof of his growth. And then there’s June Mar Fajardo, who finished with 24 points and 14 rebounds. At this point, I’m convinced he’s not human—he’s a basketball machine programmed for dominance.
But let’s talk about that fourth quarter, because that’s where the game was truly decided. With about three minutes left, Meralco was up by 5, and honestly, I thought they had it in the bag. But San Miguel’s defense tightened up, forcing two critical turnovers that led to fast-break points. The sequence that stood out to me was a block by Fajardo on Raymond Almazan, followed by a corner three from Marcio Lassiter that tied the game at 90-all. It was one of those moments where you could feel the momentum shift, almost like a gust of wind changing direction. I’ve always believed that defense wins championships, and tonight, San Miguel proved it again. They held Meralco to just 38% shooting from the field in the final quarter, which is impressive considering how explosive Meralco’s offense can be.
What’s fascinating to me, though, is how this game highlighted the importance of mental toughness. DeBeer’s comment about not realizing his physical disadvantages resonates here—several players tonight performed as if they were unaware of the pressure. Look at Meralco’s Bong Quinto, for instance. He’s not the most talked-about player on the roster, but he contributed 12 points, 5 assists, and played relentless defense on San Miguel’s guards. I’ve followed his career since his college days, and I’ve always thought he was underrated. Tonight, he played with a fearlessness that reminded me of why I love covering this sport. On the flip side, I was a bit disappointed with Meralco’s closing execution. They had two possessions in the last minute where they could have taken the lead, but forced contested shots instead of moving the ball. In my opinion, that’s where experience—or lack thereof—shows.
As the final buzzer sounded, I couldn’t help but reflect on what this means for the series. San Miguel now has the momentum, but Meralco has shown they can compete at the highest level. The key takeaway for me is that this isn’t just about star power anymore; it’s about which team’s role players step up. If San Miguel’s bench continues to contribute—they had 28 bench points tonight compared to Meralco’s 18—I think they’ll have the edge moving forward. But let’s not forget, Meralco has been here before. They’ve faced adversity and bounced back, and I expect Coach Norman Black to make the necessary adjustments. Personally, I’m leaning toward San Miguel winning the series in six games, but if Game 2 taught us anything, it’s that predictions are meant to be broken. This series is far from over, and I, for one, can’t wait to see what happens next.
