I have to admit, as someone who's been covering Philippine basketball for over a decade, I didn't expect Game 2 of the PBA Commissioner's Cup Finals to deliver such dramatic twists. The final score of 82-82 at the end of regulation perfectly captured how evenly matched San Miguel Beermen and Meralco Bolts have become in this championship series. What struck me most wasn't just the back-and-forth scoring but how different players stepped up at critical moments, reminding me of that fascinating quote from DeBeer I came across recently where he mentioned, "I didn't even know that I was the shortest and the second youngest until someone told me the other day." That mindset of playing beyond physical limitations and expectations perfectly encapsulated what we witnessed in this game.
The first quarter set the tone with San Miguel establishing an early 24-18 lead, largely thanks to June Mar Fajardo's dominance in the paint. Watching Fajardo work his magic, I've always believed he's the most fundamentally sound big man in PBA history, and he demonstrated why early with 8 points and 6 rebounds in just the opening period. But what impressed me was how Meralco didn't panic - Chris Newsome, who finished with 19 points, kept them within striking distance with his mid-range game. The second quarter saw Meralco's defense tighten considerably, holding San Miguel to just 16 points while putting up 22 themselves. I've noticed throughout these playoffs that Meralco's half-court defense has been their secret weapon, and it showed again here as they forced San Miguel into several contested shots late in the shot clock.
When the third quarter began, I thought San Miguel would come out with more energy, but instead, Meralco extended their lead to as many as 9 points at one stage. Their import, Prince Ibeh, was particularly effective defensively with 4 blocks through three quarters, altering countless other shots. What many casual fans might not appreciate is how Ibeh's presence allows Meralco's perimeter defenders to play more aggressively, knowing they have that security behind them. This is where that DeBeer quote resonates - sometimes players don't realize their limitations until others point them out, but the great ones use that awareness to their advantage rather than letting it define them. Ibeh, standing at 6'10", certainly doesn't have the height disadvantage DeBeer referenced, but he's often been criticized for his offensive limitations, yet here he was making game-changing defensive plays.
The fourth quarter was where this game transformed from a regular finals matchup into an instant classic. San Miguel, trailing by 7 points with under 5 minutes remaining, went on an 11-2 run sparked by CJ Perez's relentless attacks to the basket. Perez finished with 22 points, but more importantly, he drew two crucial fouls on Meralco's key defenders in those final minutes. As the clock wound down to the final minute with the score tied at 78-78, both teams had opportunities to win it in regulation. Chris Ross, who I've always considered one of the most clutch performers in recent PBA memory, missed a three-pointer that would have given San Miguel the lead with 15 seconds left. Then Meralco's Allein Maliksi, who had been relatively quiet throughout the game, got a decent look from the corner but couldn't connect as time expired.
Overtime was where the real drama unfolded, with both teams exchanging baskets in what felt like a heavyweight title fight. What stood out to me was the mental fortitude shown by players on both sides despite the physical exhaustion. San Miguel's Marcio Lassiter, at 36 years old, hit a crucial three-pointer with 1:28 left in overtime that gave them an 86-84 lead. Meanwhile, Meralco's Raymond Almazan, who had been battling foul trouble all game, made two huge defensive stops in the paint when his team needed them most. The final two minutes saw three lead changes before the game ultimately went to a second overtime tied at 90-90 - only the third time in PBA finals history we've seen double overtime.
The second overtime period was where San Miguel's championship experience truly shone through. They outscored Meralco 12-6 in those final five minutes, with June Mar Fajardo scoring 6 of his 28 points during this critical stretch. What many might overlook in the box score is that Fajardo also grabbed 21 rebounds - 7 of them offensive - which created crucial second-chance opportunities when San Miguel needed them most. Meanwhile, Meralco's offense seemed to run out of steam, shooting just 2-of-9 from the field in the second overtime. From my perspective, this is where their relative inexperience in finals situations compared to San Miguel showed - they settled for difficult shots rather than working for higher percentage looks.
When the final buzzer sounded with San Miguel winning 102-96, what struck me was how both teams left everything on the court. The game lasted nearly three hours in real time, yet the intensity never dropped. Statistics can only tell part of the story - San Miguel shot 43% from the field compared to Meralco's 41%, and both teams made exactly 9 three-pointers each. The rebounding battle was nearly even too, with San Miguel grabbing 52 boards to Meralco's 49. Where San Miguel really made the difference was at the free-throw line, making 21 of their 26 attempts compared to Meralco's 15 of 22. In a game this close, those 6 extra points from the charity stripe proved decisive.
Reflecting on this marathon contest, I'm reminded why I fell in love with covering Philippine basketball. Games like these showcase not just physical talent but mental toughness and strategic adjustments throughout. Coach Jorge Gallent made a crucial decision in the second overtime to go with a smaller lineup that created mismatches, while Meralco's Luigi Trillo will likely look back at those final minutes wondering if he should have called timeout to set up better shots. What DeBeer said about not being aware of his limitations until someone pointed them out resonates here - in high-pressure situations like Game 2, the best players don't think about what they can't do, they focus on what they can. Both teams displayed that mentality throughout this epic battle, setting up what promises to be an unforgettable Game 3.
