Meralco, San Mig try to break 1-1 deadlock in best-of-five semis series

Game today:

Smart-Araneta

7:15 p.m. – Meralco vs. San Mig Coffee

The Meralco Bolts and the San Mig Coffee Mixers go at it once again to see which squad will take a pivotal 2-1 lead in the best-of-five semifinals in the PBA Governors’ Cup tonight at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.

The Bolts fortified their defense and held the Mixers to a tournament-low 69 points in their Game Two win that tied the series at 1-1.

So unforgiving was the Bolts’ defense that it held two of San Mig’s most potent offensive options – Marc Pingris and Joe Devance – scoreless for the entire game.

The win was actually a historic one for the Meralco franchise as it was their very first in the semifinal round after joining the PBA three years ago.

The game was a grind for both squads but in the end, the Bolts ferocity on the boards and their transition offense gained them a significant advantage.

Meralco hustled on the glass to get 11 more offensive rebounds and were quicker on the fastbreak, pitching a 10-0 shutout in that category.

Still, the Bolts need a more efficient game from import Mario West if they are to surge ahead against the Mixers. West topped the Bolts with 17 points in Game Two but shot an atrocious 8-of-36 from the field.

The Bolts are in a good position to win, especially with the versatile Jared Dillinger back in harness. He contributed 10 points and four assists in 23 minutes of action last time out to become the game’s best player in Game Two.

Dillinger is playing just his third game with the Bolts after suffering a hip injury in a car accident five months ago.