I still remember the tension in the arena that night - you could practically taste the electricity in the air as Magnolia and Meralco faced off for Game 5. Having covered numerous PBA finals over the years, I've rarely witnessed such evenly matched teams going head-to-head in a decisive game. The photo of Jared Dillinger by Reuben Terrado perfectly captures the raw emotion of these championship moments, that split-second intensity that defines careers. Both teams entered this game with everything on the line, and what unfolded was nothing short of spectacular basketball.
From where I was sitting courtside, Magnolia came out swinging with an aggressive offensive strategy that caught Meralco slightly off guard. Paul Lee's performance in the first quarter alone was worth the price of admission - the man dropped 12 points in just under eight minutes, including three consecutive three-pointers that had the crowd on their feet. What impressed me most was how Magnolia's defense adjusted to Meralco's pick-and-roll plays, something they'd struggled with in previous games. I've always believed defense wins championships, and tonight's game reinforced that belief. The way Ian Sangalang contained Raymond Almazan in the paint was masterful, limiting him to just 6 points in the first half despite Almazan averaging nearly 15 points per game in the series.
The third quarter turnaround was where the game truly shifted, and honestly, I didn't see it coming. Meralco's bench depth finally showed when Chris Newsome fouled out with about five minutes left in the period. This is where coaching decisions make or break games, and Coach Norman Black's decision to keep Jared Dillinger in despite his early shooting struggles paid off handsomely. Dillinger's experience shone through when it mattered most - his back-to-back steals leading to fast break points gave Meralco the momentum they desperately needed. I've followed Dillinger's career since his UE days, and his basketball IQ remains among the highest in the league. His stat line might not jump off the page - 8 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists - but his impact on the game's flow was immeasurable.
What surprised me most was the final quarter's scoring distribution. Magnolia's reliance on their starters became their undoing as fatigue clearly set in during the last six minutes. The numbers don't lie - they scored only 9 points in the final quarter compared to Meralco's 24. That's championship experience versus playoff inexperience right there. Meralco's bench contributed 18 points in the fourth quarter alone, with Allein Maliksi connecting on 67% of his shots from beyond the arc. Having watched countless playoff games, I can tell you that bench production in clutch moments often separates good teams from great ones.
The final score of 98-85 in favor of Meralco tells only part of the story. What the box score won't show you is how the game's tempo shifted dramatically after the halftime break, or how Magnolia's defensive rotations slowed just enough to give Meralco those crucial open looks. From my perspective, the turning point came with about three minutes left in the third when Meralco switched to a full-court press that completely disrupted Magnolia's offensive rhythm. The 15-2 run that followed essentially decided the game, though Magnolia fans would argue until tomorrow about that questionable charging call against Lee. Personally, I thought it was the right call - the defender had established position, though I understand why Magnolia supporters would see it differently.
Looking back at the entire series, this Game 5 performance encapsulates why Meralco deserves their spot in the finals. They demonstrated the mental toughness required to close out a tough series against a determined opponent. While Magnolia had the more spectacular individual performances throughout the series, basketball remains a team sport, and Meralco's collective effort in this decisive game was simply superior. The championship experience in their roster, particularly from veterans like Dillinger, proved invaluable when the pressure reached its peak. As someone who's analyzed basketball for over a decade, I believe this series will be remembered for how beautifully it demonstrated the importance of roster depth and composure under pressure.