I remember watching that pivotal Game 2 moment when Raymond Almazan went down—the arena went quiet, and honestly, my first thought was, "This changes everything." When you're covering basketball professionally like I do, you learn to spot these turning points. Almazan’s injury wasn't just a physical blow; it became a psychological trigger for the team. Chris Newsome summed it up perfectly afterward, saying, "When I was watching him getting stretchered off the court, it was also like a motivation and a sign for us to step up." That’s the kind of raw emotion that can redefine a series, and as we head into Game 3 between SMB and Meralco, I’m convinced this incident will loom large over who takes the crucial 2-1 series lead.
From my years analyzing playoff basketball, I’ve seen how teams respond to adversity—it’s rarely about X’s and O’s alone. For Meralco, Almazan’s absence means someone else has to fill that 12-point, 9-rebble void he left in Game 2. My advice? Focus on defensive adjustments early. In the first quarter, Meralco should double-team June Mar Fajardo in the post—force him to pass out, even if it risks giving up a few open threes. I’d estimate Fajardo shoots around 65% when single-covered in the paint, so sagging off non-shooters could save them 8-10 points per half. On the flip side, SMB needs to exploit this by running pick-and-rolls to draw Meralco’s bigs out. I’ve always preferred high-tempo offenses in situations like this—get the ball to CJ Perez in transition, where he’s averaging roughly 18 fast-break points this conference.
But here’s where personal bias kicks in: I’m leaning toward SMB for Game 3, and not just because of their depth. That "step up" mentality Newsome mentioned? It’s contagious. I’ve watched SMB in past playoffs—they thrive when things get messy. My method for predicting wins involves tracking hustle stats: offensive rebounds, loose balls recovered, those gritty moments. In Game 2, SMB edged Meralco by 5 in second-chance points, and I’d bet money that gap widens to 8-10 in Game 3. One thing to avoid, though? Overreacting to Almazan’s injury. Meralco’s bench isn’t shallow—they’ve got Kyle Pascual, who put up 7 points in 12 minutes last game. If they fall into a panic and overhelp on defense, SMB’s shooters like Marcio Lassiter will burn them from beyond the arc.
As we approach tip-off, I keep circling back to that stretcher moment. In my experience, playoff series swing on these emotional spikes—it’s why I love this sport. SMB has the momentum, but Meralco has the desperation. If I were coaching, I’d tell Meralco to run set plays for Allein Maliksi early; get him 15-18 shots before halftime because he’s clutch under pressure. For SMB? Stay disciplined. Don’t get complacent just because you’re up 1-1. Honestly, I’m predicting a 98-94 SMB win, with Perez dropping 25 points. But whatever happens, this SMB vs Meralco Game 3 isn’t just about tactics—it’s about who wants it more after watching their teammate fall. And that, folks, is what makes playoff basketball unforgettable.