Meralco seeks to arrest two-game skid
Meralco is on a two-game slide, but there are no alarm bells ringing within the camp.
In fact, the Bolts believe all it will take for them to snap out of their funk is one win, which they could have Friday when they take on Blackwater in the Oppo-PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The Elite, who got a taste of the quarterfinals for the first time in the last Philippine Cup, are desperate to remain among the top eight teams advancing to the playoffs and would keep that goal within sight should they prevail.
That Blackwater determination is not lost on Meralco coach Norman Black.
“I’m expecting a tough game versus Blackwater because they have played well even in their losses,” said Black, whose own team is eyeing a win that would not only stop its skid but also move it ahead of current co-leader but idle Alaska.
First, the Bolts must take care of some basic things.
“Keys to the game are we have to slow down their fastbreak, challenge their three-point shooters and keep their import off the offensive boards,” said Black.
The Elite are coming off a 79-89 loss to Barangay Ginebra last Sunday, but not after engaging the Kings through two deadlocks and six lead changes. It’s just that Ginebra’s experience surfaced in the form of LA Tenorio scattering 11 of his 20 points in the fourth period to pull the crowd darlings through.
Despite the loss, several Blackwater players continue to show their grit. Twenty-three-year-old MJ Rhett notched 24 points and 23 rebounds, 12 of them off the offensive boards, while Carlo Lastimosa notched 16 of his 19 points in the second half to keep his team-leading average to 22.29 ppg.
Should Reil Cervantes bounce back from a three-point game against Ginebra, Mike Cortez and main reliever Raphy Reyes hold the team together and Arthur dela Cruz, JP Erram and James Sena do their part Meralco should have its hands full.
Meralco will be playing minus Gary David and that should affect the team’s bid for an additional scoring threat, especially from the perimeter
There are other Bolts who could pick up the cudgels, like Cliff Hodge, Chris Newsome and Jared Dillinger, not to mention Jimmy Alapag, Baser Amer and even Anjo Caram, who all must hit their outside shots to attract the defense and free Arinze Onuaku up to frolic inside.
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