As I sat courtside watching the Meralco Bolts take on the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel in last night's electrifying matchup, I couldn't help but reflect on Justine Gozum's recent comments that have been circulating in basketball circles. The Quezon Huskers' standout player had mentioned, "For me, the first round is just a bonus already. I just focus on the present. I don't overthink too much about the future. I just control what I can control." This mindset perfectly encapsulates what we witnessed in last night's thrilling 98-95 victory by Meralco over Ginebra - a game where both teams demonstrated remarkable presence and composure under pressure.
The final score doesn't even begin to tell the full story of this incredible battle. With 4:32 remaining in the fourth quarter, Ginebra had clawed their way back from a 15-point deficit to tie the game at 87-87, thanks to Scottie Thompson's relentless drives to the basket. The atmosphere inside the arena was absolutely electric - you could feel the tension building with every possession. Having covered Philippine basketball for over fifteen years, I've seen my fair share of intense rivalries, but there's something special about Meralco-Ginebra matchups that always delivers drama. What impressed me most was how Meralco's veteran players maintained their composure during those crucial final minutes, exactly embodying that "control what you can control" mentality that Gozum mentioned.
Chris Newsome delivered what I believe was his best performance of the season, finishing with 28 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists. His three-pointer with 1:14 left on the clock that put Meralco up 94-89 was nothing short of spectacular - the kind of shot that separates good players from clutch performers. On the other side, Christian Standhardinger put up impressive numbers with 25 points and 12 rebounds, but it just wasn't enough to overcome Meralco's balanced attack. The game's turning point came with about 38 seconds remaining when Allein Maliksi stole an inbound pass that essentially sealed the victory for Meralco. These are the moments that championship teams are built on, and frankly, I think Meralco showed they have what it takes to make a deep playoff run this season.
What struck me as particularly interesting was how both teams approached the game mentally. We often hear coaches talk about "staying in the moment," but seeing it executed at this level is something else entirely. There were at least three occasions where Ginebra could have folded when trailing by double digits, but they kept fighting back. Similarly, Meralco didn't panic when their lead evaporated in the fourth quarter. This mental toughness reminds me of Gozum's approach - not overthinking the future, but focusing on executing in the present. From my perspective, this is what separates the top teams from the rest of the pack. The game statistics tell an interesting story - Meralco shot 46% from the field compared to Ginebra's 42%, but the real difference came in three-point shooting where Meralco connected on 38% of their attempts versus Ginebra's 29%.
I've always believed that basketball is as much a mental game as it is physical, and last night's contest proved that theory once again. The way Meralco managed their timeouts, their defensive adjustments in the second half, and their poise during Ginebra's runs demonstrated championship-caliber mental preparation. Personally, I think Coach Norman Black doesn't get enough credit for the psychological preparation of his team. There was a sequence in the third quarter where Meralco executed three consecutive defensive stops that led to fastbreak points - that's not just talent, that's focused execution. Meanwhile, Ginebra's Japeth Aguilar had a relatively quiet night with just 12 points, which surprised me given his recent form. Sometimes matchups just don't favor certain players, and tonight seemed to be one of those cases.
The crowd of 12,847 fans certainly got their money's worth, with the game featuring 12 lead changes and 8 ties. What many casual observers might miss is how these back-and-forth battles test a team's character. When Ginebra took their first lead since the first quarter at the 8:15 mark of the fourth, I was curious to see how Meralco would respond. Their answer - a 9-2 run over the next three minutes - showed tremendous resilience. This is where Gozum's philosophy really resonates with me. In high-pressure situations, the ability to focus on the present rather than worrying about the scoreboard or the implications of the game is what separates good teams from great ones. Meralco's bench contributed 32 points compared to Ginebra's 24, and that depth might have been the difference in such a closely contested game.
Looking at the bigger picture, this victory gives Meralco crucial momentum heading into the final stretch of the elimination round. With this win, they improve to 7-2 while Ginebra drops to 6-3. Having followed both franchises for years, I've noticed that Meralco seems to have figured out how to compete with Ginebra's physical style better than most teams. Their ball movement - recording 24 assists to Ginebra's 19 - was particularly impressive against Ginebra's typically stout defense. There was a beautiful sequence in the second quarter where Meralco made five passes leading to an open corner three that had even the Ginebra fans applauding. Those are the moments that make basketball such a beautiful game to watch and analyze.
As the final buzzer sounded, I found myself thinking about how this game exemplified the very mindset that Gozum described. Neither team overcomplicated things - they simply focused on controlling what they could control in each moment. For Meralco, that meant sticking to their game plan even when Ginebra made their runs. For Ginebra, it meant continuing to fight despite the deficit. In my professional opinion, this is the kind of game that both teams can build upon regardless of the outcome. The lessons learned about composure and focus will serve them well as we approach the playoffs. While the final score shows Meralco emerging victorious, the real winner was basketball itself, as fans were treated to a masterpiece of competitive spirit and mental fortitude.