It is normal to think Alaska has it all figured out after the Aces picked up a 92-72 Game Three win last Friday to grab a 2-1 series lead in their semifinals duel against the Meralco Bolts.
But the resilient Bolts refused to back down, responding with great character in a decisive 86-70 Game Four win Monday night to extend the series to a decider on Wednesday.
Jared Dillinger led the Bolts’ fight back, scoring team-high 17 points including four triples to help give the team a chance to enter the PBA Commissioner’s Cup finals.
“We really kind of took it as a challenge. Coach (Norman) Black kind of called us out, saying we didn’t really come out with that much energy or effort after Game 3,” Dillinger said.
“You know from top to bottom, we gave it a hundred and fifty percent, and it is a good thing we won this game. We will rest immediately and get ready for Wednesday.”
Dillinger even converted on a heave beyond the half-court line that gave the Bolts a ten point edge entering the final frame. “It’s funny because when I let it go, I felt like it had a good chance,” he said about the Hail Mary. “That’s why I stayed there the way I did. Luckily it went in. It was like a one in a million type. I’ll take it at this point.”
The Bolts held a 50-39 advantage in rebounding, and also had eight more assists than the Aces, 19-11. The team also limited the Aces to only 33 percent shooting.
With the Bolts still in the running for a finals spot, Dillinger says the win-or-go-home affair happening less than 48 hours from now is about “who’s got more guts.”
“Like what I said, at this point, when you go to a final do or die game, you throw away the X’s and O’s, we know everyone’s tendencies, they know our tendencies, it’s about who has more heart to execute,” he said.
Having been swept in the same conference last season, Dillinger and the rest of his teammates took important notes this time from their wins in Games Two and Four to add more experience under their belt.
Now facing the most important close-out game of the franchise’s existence, Dillinger believes his team has what it takes to advance to a level the team has never achieved.
“It is huge. Last year, I hurt my knee, Josh Davis also got hurt. This year is different because everyone is healthy. Everyone is on the same age. It helps we have some Jimmy Alapag to help our team to calm everyone down,” Dillinger shared.
“We are believing. We believe we can win. We are ready to go. We know what we need to do.”
