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ALL-OUT WEDNESDAY
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MERALCO coach Ryan Gregorio may have mixed up some numbers, but he is crystal-clear on the one that matters most
“All-out Wednesday, that is our battlecry,” said Gregorio, referring to his Bolts’ match against San Mig Coffee for the lone remaining semifinals berth in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The rubber match was forged after the Mixers carved a 100-92 win last Sunday, denying Meralco a followup to its 88-85 squeaker in the best-of-three duel’s opener two days before.
For San Mig coach Tim Cone, the decider should essentially boil down to the final possession, much like what happened in the Barangay Ginebra-Rain or Shine game whose outcome was decided only in the final second.
“Nothing comes easy in the playoffs as evidenced by the Ginebra-Rain or Shine game. That’s the way we expect our game to play out – a tough, down-the-wire battle that can go either way,” said Cone.
“But we like our chances and will go for it. We’ll just need to play a very focused game.”
In Game 2, Meralco was called for 32 fouls and San Mig was awarded 43 charities, which a still-frustrated Gregorio thought was a bit more. “They shot 45 free throws, we cannot defend that,” he said.
“Twenty free throw-differential from Game 1 to Game 2. We have to adjust to the calls, no other way. We are so used to playing defense at a certain way but somehow calls were tighter in Game 2. Now, the burden of adjustment is on our side. We must maintain our pressure without fouling.”
It is not that Gregorio is putting all the blame on the game officials. The Bolts again won the rebounding battle, 58-48, but their usual running game was not there.
“Fatigue was felt in Game 2, our third game in five days,” stated Gregorio.
“The (two-day) rest, hopefully, will enable us to recuperate and rejuvenate. We play quick and aggressive, that’s why we need our legs. We only scored three fastbreak points. Some credit goes to their transition defense, but most of it is our inability to run,” he added.
“Wednesday will be different.”
In last year’s edition of the mid-season tourney, Meralco also took a 1-0 lead over the team then known as B-Meg, but dropped the next two games and ultimately matched its best placing yet in the league by winding up sixth.
In order to earn the right to face early qualifier Alaska in the best-of-five semifinals that start Friday, the Bolts must take care of some defensive business, notwithstanding the unpredictable calls, and Gregorio readily enumerated a few.
“Denzel (Bowles) must be contained, he is playing at a different level in the playoffs. (Alex) Mallari must be respected, he has upped his performance, too. James (Yap) and PJ (Simon)’s production must be limited. (Marc Pingris) Ping’s hustle board must be matched,” said Gregorio.
Yap is actually averaging just 7.5 points in 25 minutes in the series, hampered by lower back problems.
Leading those picking up the slack are Bowles, with series averages of 36.0 points and 14.5 rebounds, and Mallari, whose quarterfinals norm of 14.0 points is more than triple his eliminations average of 3.7.
Simon, Pingris, Mark Barroca and Joe Devance have also chipped in, completely negating Eric Dawson’s near-triple double of 23 points, 23 rebounds and eight assists and Macmac Cardona’s 14 points and 10 boards in Game 2.
The other Bolts must also crank up their game on both ends, particularly Ronjay Buenafe, Chris Ross, Sunday Salvacion, Reynel Hugnatan and Cliff Hodge.
“Hard to do all, but it is the only way for us to avoid extinction,” stressed Gregorio. (NC)
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