Ginebra vs Meralco Game 2 Final Score and Key Highlights You Need to See

Walking into the arena that night, you could just feel the electricity in the air. As a longtime PBA fan, I’ve seen my share of Ginebra comebacks, but this Game 2 clash with Meralco had a different kind of vibe from the jump. The final score—Meralco 95, Ginebra 88—doesn’t fully capture the tactical chess match that unfolded, especially in that second half. I’ve always believed that coaching adjustments win playoff games, and this one was a textbook example. Meralco’s head coach, Luigi Trillo, put on a masterclass in adaptation, and honestly, it was thrilling to watch unfold in real time.

For the first half, it looked like we were heading for a classic Ginebra grind-out win. They were controlling the pace, getting second-chance points, and the crowd was fully behind them. Justin Brownlee was doing his usual thing, slicing through the lane, and Scottie Thompson was all over the boards. Meralco was hanging in there, but you got the sense they were playing Ginebra’s game. I remember thinking, if they don’t change something soon, this series could slip to 2-0 in a hurry. The energy was shifting, and Ginebra’s momentum felt like a tidal wave. But then, the third quarter started, and everything flipped.

What struck me was Meralco’s decision to go small—a move that, in my view, completely altered the game’s trajectory. They downsized their lineup, spreading the floor and forcing Ginebra’s bigs to defend in space. It was a risky gambit, considering Ginebra’s rebounding strength, but it paid off massively. As Coach Trillo pointed out after the game, “It’s always tough when you play Ginebra. The momentum was on our side, but I think maganda ‘yung ginawa namin na we went small. We were able to attack them in certain points of attack in the second half.” That shift allowed Meralco to exploit mismatches, particularly in pick-and-roll situations where Ginebra’s bigs were a step slow closing out. Chris Newsome, who I’ve always felt is one of the most underrated players in the league, exploded for 28 points, many coming off drives and kick-outs generated by that small-ball spacing.

The real problem for Ginebra, in my opinion, was their inability to counter Meralco’s speed. They’re built to punish teams inside, but when Meralco spread them out, Ginebra’s defensive rotations looked a half-second late. They gave up 52 points in the paint, which is unusually high for them, and a lot of those came from dribble penetration. On offense, Ginebra seemed out of sync; they shot just 41% from the field and a dismal 28% from beyond the arc. Those numbers aren’t going to cut it against a disciplined team like Meralco. I’ve seen Ginebra adjust mid-game so many times, but this time, they struggled to find an answer.

Meralco’s solution wasn’t just about lineups—it was about tempo. They pushed the ball in transition every chance they got, not allowing Ginebra to set up their half-court defense. They also made a conscious effort to attack specific defenders, like when they isolated Allein Maliksi on the wing, leading to easy buckets or fouls. Defensively, they doubled Brownlee aggressively, forcing other players to beat them. It’s a strategy I’ve seen work before, but the execution here was nearly flawless. Meralco’s bench outscored Ginebra’s 35-20, which tells you how deep their roster is when they play this style.

For me, the biggest takeaway from this Ginebra vs Meralco Game 2 is the importance of tactical flexibility in a series. So often, teams stick to their identity to a fault, but Meralco showed that sometimes you have to throw the script out the window. If you’re a coach or a player, this game is a reminder that momentum can be stolen with one bold adjustment. Personally, I love seeing underdogs—or in this case, the lower-seeded team—make these kinds of moves. It makes the series more unpredictable and, frankly, more fun to watch. As we look ahead to Game 3, I’m curious to see how Ginebra responds. Will they counter with their own small lineup, or double down on their size? Either way, this series just got a whole lot more interesting.