Quantcast
Meralco Bolts 98
VS
TNT Ka Tropa 87
FINAL
Preview
Recap

Defense is key as Meralco takes on TNT KaTropa

meralco bolts
Despite their conquest of TNT KaTropa in their Final Four showdown last conference, Meralco coach Norman Black is not under the illusion that the Texters will be an easy matchup for his team.

Black, in fact, emphasizes their game against the Texters will be a big test for them.

“They are one of the strongest teams in the league so we must play our best basketball,” said Black ahead of the Meralco-TNT setto in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum at 7 p.m. Friday.

“Slowing down the high scoring combo of Jayson (Castro) and Ranidel (de Ocampo) will be our main focus, but we will also have to keep track of their shooters. Once again, defending them will be the key,” Black also said.

Surely, this is a different match with Meralco import Allen Durham gone. Cliff Hodge, Jared Dillinger, Kelly Nabong and their teammates have to fend for themselves versus the tough TNT team that also includes Larry Fonacier, Troy Rosario, Moala Tautuaa, Ryan Reyes, Harvey Carey and Matt Ganuelas-Rosser.

At the expense of their illustrious sister team, the Bolts achieved a huge breakthrough in the last Governors Cup, completing a stunning reversal of top seed TNT to book a first PBA Finals entry in franchise history.

The Bolts, the playoff fourth-ranked team then, got past the Texters in sweeping the next three games after dropping the opener of the best-of-five semis series.

Before running into the gritty Meralco bunch, the Texters were 11-1 (win-loss) from the elims to quarterfinals. The loss to the Bolts cost Jong Uichico the head coach position that went to Nash Racela.

Curiously, the TNT-Meralco match is the start of Racela’s full takeover of the coaching rein in the team.

With Racela still handling the FEU Tams in the UAAP, Josh Reyes called the shots as the Texters got to a 2-1 win-loss start in the PBA all-Filipino tourney.

The Texters will be out to bolt out of a heavy six-way logjam on top with the Blackwater Elite, the GlobalPort Batang Pier, the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, the Phoenix Fuel Masters and the San Miguel Beermen.

After a losing season debut versus the E-Painters, the Texters gained a piece of the lead with back-to-back triumphs over the Barangay Ginebra Kings and the Blackwater Elite.

The Bolts, meanwhile, dropped their initial game against the Elite, 84-86, then bounced back with a 106-93 spanking of the NLEX Road Warriors.

The Texters and the Bolts may well figure in an exciting duel.

Follow Us


Other Stories:

Recent Stories:

Complete stories on our Digital Edition newsstand for tablets, netbooks and mobile phones; 14-issue free trial. About to step out? Get breaking alerts on your mobile.phone. Text ON INQ BREAKING to 4467, for Globe, Smart and Sun subscribers in the Philippines.