POWER UP TIME FOR BOLTS, ENERGY
MORE than just one target are on the sights of Meralco and Barako Bull when they clash Friday in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Both the Bolts and Energy are aching to bounce back on the winning track and at the same time boost their respective bids of making it among the top eight advancing to the quarterfinals.
The urgency is even more so for Meralco, which can move alongside leader Talk N Text and thus gain an inside track in the race for a top two finish at the end of the 11-game eliminations that carries with it a win-once advantage in the next round.
No wonder Bolts coach Norman Black wants his charges to forget their most recent games and go all out.
“We enter the game with the mindset of having to win to get a chance at the twice-to-beat advantage,” said Black.
Said shot has been given Meralco before but blew it with back-to-back losses to San Miguel Beer and NLEX, the last via a 76-89 count last Feb. 27.
The break lengthened by the All-Stars Weekend allowed Meralco import Josh Davis to fully recover from a back injury he suffered against the Beermen and for Black to drill his players on the finer points of his gameplan.
“The keys are we have to get back on defense, challenge their outside shooters and try to control (Barako import Solomon) Alabi inside the paint,” bared Black.
“On offense, with Davis back healthy, we just want to play better than we have our last two games.”
Yet Barako is itself bristling to snap out of an alarming tailspin that saw it losing four of its last five games, although Elite coach Koy Banal knows they are in for a long night.
“Meralco is playing a very high intensity basketball. They have a lot of energy guys and a scorer in Gary David. We can’t afford to enter the game relaxed,” said Banal, whose team is among the bottom half of the top eight.
David has indeed been displaying the form that made him the scoring champion from 2011 to 2013 while Davis complements norms of 19.86 points and 16.29 rebounds with tons of energy that rubs off on his teammates.
Banal has his own weapons.
The seven-foot Alabi is indeed a major source of concern for Meralco as he has been averaging 23.62 points, 21 rebounds and a league-high four blocks per game.
The Elite’s locals, led by JC Intal and Sol Mercado, are also expected to step up in their collective bid to move up to solo fifth-running spot.
“Our players have created some tension in practice to bring out that sense of urgency. Hopefully, we can bring the same energy and aggressiveness in the game.” (NC)
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