As I settled in to watch Game 5 of the PBA Live matchup between Magnolia and Meralco, I could feel the tension even through my screen. Having followed both teams throughout this series, I knew we were in for something special—and boy, did they deliver. The atmosphere was electric from the opening tip-off, with both teams trading baskets in a fast-paced first quarter that set the tone for what would become one of the most memorable games of the season.
Magnolia came out with an aggressive offensive strategy, clearly aiming to dominate the paint early. Paul Lee was absolutely on fire, hitting three consecutive three-pointers in the first six minutes. I’ve always admired his composure under pressure, and tonight he proved why he’s considered one of the league’s clutch performers. On the other side, Meralco’s Chris Newsome responded with some spectacular drives to the basket, keeping the score tight. The first quarter ended with Magnolia leading by just four points, 28-24, but it felt much closer than that. Both teams were playing with such intensity—you could tell neither wanted to give an inch.
The second quarter saw Meralco making adjustments, particularly on defense. They started double-teaming Lee, which forced Magnolia to look for other options. This is where Ian Sangalang stepped up. His mid-range jumpers were money, and he finished the first half with 16 points. I’ve always thought Sangalang is underrated; his footwork in the post is just beautiful to watch. Meanwhile, Meralco’s Raymond Almazan was a force on the boards, grabbing 8 rebounds in the first half alone. Still, Magnolia managed to maintain a slight edge, heading into halftime with a 52-48 lead.
Now, the third quarter—this is where the game really shifted. Meralco came out with renewed energy, and their defense was suffocating. They forced Magnolia into several turnovers, converting them into fast-break points. At one point, Meralco went on a 12-2 run, taking a five-point lead. I have to admit, I thought Magnolia was in trouble. But then, Calvin Abueva happened. His energy off the bench was infectious; he attacked the rim fearlessly and drew fouls that got Magnolia back into the bonus early. The momentum swung back and forth, and by the end of the third, Meralco was up by two, 78-76.
The fourth quarter was an absolute nail-biter. Both teams exchanged leads multiple times, and the intensity reached playoff levels. With about three minutes left, Magnolia’s Jio Jalalon made a steal and converted it into a layup that put them up by one. But Meralco’s Allein Maliksi, who had been relatively quiet, hit a huge three-pointer to regain the lead. I’ve never been a huge fan of Maliksi’s inconsistency, but credit where it’s due—he showed up when it mattered. The final minute was pure drama. With 20 seconds left, Paul Lee drove to the basket, drew a foul, and sank both free throws to tie the game at 98-98. Meralco had the last possession, but Newsome’s contested jumper rimmed out, sending the game into overtime.
Overtime was just as thrilling, but Magnolia’s experience shone through. They executed their plays perfectly, while Meralco seemed to run out of gas. Lee and Abueva combined for 10 points in the extra period, and Magnolia’s defense held Meralco to just six. The final score was 112-104 in favor of Magnolia, securing them a 3-2 series lead. Looking back, I think Magnolia’s depth and composure in crunch time made the difference. Meralco fought valiantly, but they’ll need to find a way to close out games if they want to force a Game 6. What a game—this is why I love the PBA.