Meralco pushed its PBA Philippine Cup semifinal series with Barangay Ginebra to a deciding seventh game after getting an 86-81 victory Wednesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Bong Quinto and Allein Maliksi hit most of the shots the Bolts made in the fourth quarter as they thwarted the Gin Kings’ first shot at making the Finals and set up a sudden death showdown outside of the metropolis.

The decider is set Friday at FPJ Arena in San Jose, Batangas, the winner facing the San Miguel Beermen for the championship.

PBA: Meralco foils Ginebra closeout bid, forces semis Game 7

Quinto posted 23 points while Maliksi caught fire in the fourth with 12 of his 14 points in the last period to propel Meralco’s refusal to end its season.

Chris Newsome added 21 points even with a 6-of-21 shooting while also producing four rebounds and three assists.

Christian Standhardinger and Japeth Aguilar had 19 points apiece but the Gin Kings couldn’t get the job done on their first try.

Meralco led by 11 in the first quarter, then responded from a Ginebra rally and erased a seven-point deficit to go ahead 38-37 at the break.