Brgy. Ginebra def Meralco, 94-87 [QF Game 3 | PBA S49 Comm’s Cup | Feb. 9, 2025]

Survival of the fittest.

The Barangay Ginebra Kings and the Meralco Bolts find themselves in a do-or-die predicament as they clash in a decisive showdown for a coveted PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinal berth.

Both squads know the stakes all too well. The expectation is simple: lay it all on the line in what promises to be an adrenaline-fueled battle for the right to face top-seeded NorthPort in the Final Four.

Game Three tips off at 7:30 p.m. at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo, serving as the thrilling climax to the latest chapter in the storied Ginebra-Meralco rivalry.

In their previous encounters, the Kings edged the Bolts, 100-92, in a nail-biter on Wednesday, only for Chris Newsome and his squad to respond emphatically, rallying past Justin Brownlee and company, 108-104, on Friday. This back-and-forth intensity has propelled their quarterfinal series to its ultimate conclusion.

With six teams—including Terrafirma, Blackwater, Phoenix, San Miguel Beer, Magnolia, and Eastern—already eliminated, the stakes have never been higher. By the time Ginebra and Meralco take to the floor, it’s a battle to solidify a spot alongside NorthPort, TNT, and the ROS-Converge victor in the semifinals.

This series has been charged with emotion, reaching a boiling point when RJ Abarrientos revealed on Instagram that he received death threats after his missed attempt to send Game Two into overtime. The league’s commissioner, Willie Marcial, took the matter seriously and enlisted the National Bureau of Investigation’s assistance.

Adding fuel to the fire, Meralco head coach Luigi Trillo’s furious outburst over a string of foul calls against his team resulted in a technical foul but subsequently seemed to ignite his players, paving the way for their crucial comeback victory.

Both teams are set to remain sharp and focused as they vie for that all-important win on Sunday, ready to leave it all on the court in this electric playoff clash.