BOLTS, ENERGY COLA EYE FOURTH
MERALCO coach Ryan Gregorio prefers a more comfortable win than by just the skin of his team’s teeth. If the latter is what is continued to be given his Bolts, then it’s just fine with him, too.
In fact, another close shave is what Gregorio expects when Meralco shoots for a third straight win against Barako Bull Wednesday in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
A win shoves the Bolts into fourth-running spot, but they must first overcome an Energy Cola squad bristling to snap out of a three-game skid.
“It is a very important game for us,” said Barako active consultant Rajko Toroman, whose team has actually lost four of its last five games, including a 98-101 heartbreaker to Talk N Text last Saturday.
“They (Bolts) are coming off two wins and have a lot of confidence, but we also played well against Talk N Text,” the Serbian added.
Nabbing a top four spot at the halfway mark of the 14-game eliminations phase is a dream come true for Meralco and Gregorio claimed his charges are ready to go all-out for the win that should serve them in good stead in the second half of the elims.
“The incentive is strong enough to compel us to do our best,” said the tactician, whose squad is coming off back-to-back one-point wins over GlobalPort and Air21.
“Lady Luck smiled on us in our last two games. We are not complaining. I believe that the more you work hard the more you are going to get lucky,” added Gregorio.
Following the up-and-down Express game Gregorio said: “It’s going to be a long battle, a long conference for us. All our games will be like this. But as long as we end up winners we don’t mind it.”
A strong start and an equally solid finish are what the two coaches want most from their respective teams.
Meralco blew as much as a 60-42 lead before overcoming a three-point deficit in the last 45 seconds for an 89-88 squeaker over Air21.
Barako, on the other hand, dominated TNT for the most part, only to wilt in the face of a Jayson Castro-led attack in the stretch.
Gregorio also knows what to watch out for in an Energy Cola crew that makes most of its living from beyond the arc.
“The three-point lane must be defended against Barako,” noted Gregorio. “They launch the most number of 3s and they must be challenged.” (NC)
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