PBA GC QF: (2) San Miguel vs (7) Meralco

Meralco needs another vintage performance
from El Granada to win
(Photo credits Sports5)

"Oh, so you helped oust your sister team? You better make damn sure you win."

Fantasy monologue from Manny V. Pangilinan to his Meralco Bolts team, which lost to Kia and helped close the door on sister team's Talk'n'Text Tropang Texters chances of making the Playoffs.

Uh-oh.

They won against San Miguel, 106-95 with Andre Emmet exploding for 31 points and 11 rebounds plus the aide of a vintage Gary David performance with 23 markers. That being said, AZ Reid was not at his very best (sick), while Junemar Fajardo was left all by his lonesome by his local brethren.

Now?

Fajardo is playing like he always does. Reid is back to being Mr. A to Z. The rest of the crew are delivering, namely Marcio Lassiter and Alex Cabagnot. This Beermen, which finished 2nd overall, look like the same Beermen squad that won the PBA Philippine Cup (only with Reid cast in the Arwind Santos role).

Can the Bolts beat the Beermen?

Yes. Because Emmet is just as dangerous as Reid. Because they play a blue collar, selfless and position-less style. Because Reynel Hugnatan is arguably the most under-rated clutch performing power forward in the last 10  years. Yes, because head coach Norman Black has seen it all in the PBA.

But no.

They probably won't.

Not against this version of the Beermen wherein everyone knows their roles on the team and have come to openly embrace/ accept it. A superstar roster that always walks the thin line when it comes to teamwork and individual superiority. Some games they alienate one another by virtue of player A, B or, uhm, Z, just wanting to take over, other games they just play cohesively as a unit.

Perhaps it would've been a better match-up had the Mike Cortez and Jared Dillinger been healthy up to this point. There's just no way Simon Atkins and or that Japanese import Seiya Ando can keep up with Cabagnot and even his backup Chris Ross.

Sean Anthony and Cliff Hodge need to be fully charged for this match. Meralco's chances will rest on the shoulders of their interchangeable blue collar wings - Hugnatan, Hodge, Anthony and even Kelly Nabong.

Nabong vs Espinas. Do it.

Prediction: San Miguel