The Meralco Bolts aim to rebound quickly in Game 3 of the 48th Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup finals on Sunday.
Despite the uphill battle, the Bolts remain determined, knowing they need to win three consecutive games against the formidable San Miguel Beermen as they head into their 6:15 p.m. showdown at the Araneta Coliseum.
“We’ll be better come Sunday. We did not play well,” said Bolts coach Luigi Trillo, emerging from a locker room discussion with his players last Friday.
In Game 2, CJ Perez delivered a career-high 34 points, while Marcio Lassiter hit a memorable three-pointer, helping the San Miguel Beermen edge out the Bolts with a 95-94 victory.
“We’re not going to sweep San Miguel. So, every game, we have to bring our A-game,” added Trillo.
Lassiter’s crucial three-pointer tied the best-of-seven series at 1-1, marking a pivotal moment with just 13.2 seconds remaining. This shot also elevated his career three-point total to 1,229, placing him third in league history behind Jimmy Alapag (1,250) and Allan Caidic (1,242).
“They hit that big three in the end. That’s why San Miguel wins championships. You know they’ll be ready,” Trillo noted.
The Beermen aim to recover in Game 3 to regain the series lead. Perez, a key veteran on the team, emphasized the importance of their performance.
“This Game 2 was incredibly crucial, and we gave it our 110 percent,” said Perez.
