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SERVICES
THE INQUIRER COMPANY
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04
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26
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2024
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SERVICES
THE INQUIRER COMPANY
04
26
2024
MERALCO has had a rollercoaster ride so far in the PBA Governors’ Cup and that is enough cause for alarm for coach Norman Black.
Main reason why Black wants his Bolts to adopt a sense of urgency starting Friday when they collide with Blackwater at the Smart Araneta Coliseum at 4:15 p.m.
“Must win for us if we want to make the next round,” stressed Black on the eve of the match, expressing the prevailing team sentiment.
There is no real cause for panic. After all, Meralco still has five games left and lies tied for seventh.
But the contenders do not merely want to advance to the eight-team quarterfinals. They also want to avoid relegation among the bottom four, which will have a win-twice handicap.
For Black, the prospects look dim enough if his Bolts do not right themselves.
Little consolation for Black is the way his team has been playing. If its trend in its first five games is to be used as gauge Meralco should bounce back from a 99-105 loss to Barako Bull and win against Blackwater.
Yet a more solid proof, like his team going all-out starting Friday, is the only thing that could ease the worries of Black.
And then there’s Blackwater’s recent games.
The Elite currently lie at 11th to 12th spot due to a 76-83 double overtime loss to fellow expansion team Kia last Tuesday.
Despite Blackwater’s failure to follow up on its upset of Barangay Ginebra and notch a first-ever second straight win, Black was still impressed.
“Blackwater played well in their last game,” he noted.
If only Black could say the same for his team, which still needs vital fine-tuning in some facets of its game and mostly propped only by American import Andre Emmett usually good for 37 points and 11.4 rebounds an outing.
“We need to establish some consistency in our game, especially on defense. Also, we must improve our teamwork on offense because our ball movement has been stagnant,” stated Black.
Main worry for Black in the Blackwater game is how to contain the size factor of 6-foot-10 Elite import Marcus Douthit, who has been averaging 22.60 points, 15.20 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 3.8 blocks per game.
Gary David has also been struggling in his offense of late, as well as the Bolts’ inability to offset their lack of a true center, relying mostly on veteran Danny Ildefonso, James Sena, Reynel Hugnatan, Cliff Hodge and Sean Anthony to man their frontcourt. (NC)
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