#PBA2015 PREVIEW: GLOBALPORT vs. MERALCO — BATANG PIER OUT TO STOP STREAKING BOLTS
Meralco’s 4-0 start in the 2015 PBA Commissioner’s Cup is still a surprise even for its head coach Norman Black.
Already a multi-titled mentor in his own right, the hot streak of the Bolts wasn’t really what Black imagined. But with them sitting at the top of the standings, he’s just satisfied with how his team is progressing this conference.
“I don’t expect anything, to be honest with you,” Black said. “I just try to prepare the team the best I can and hope for the best when we go out to the basketball court. I do know that we have really good practices of late, offensively and defensively.”
And on Sunday, the Bolts will try to extend that run to five as it plays GlobalPort in the Sunday curtain raiser at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Game time is at 3:00 p.m.
Black said that he’s quite happy with his team’s turnout so far as import Josh Davis has complemented well with the local gunners.
“It’s a good start for us. Now, we have got to concentrate on GlobalPort and get our fifth win,” he said.
But waiting for them is the uncertainty of battling against new Batang Pier reinforcement Calvin Warner.
The 6-foot-5 Warner has been given his release papers by his former team in Jordan Thursday, allowing GlobalPort to finally field in their replacement for CJ Leslie.
Before being sent home, Leslie still helped the Batang Pier rout Alaska, 95-73 last Tuesday. However, that wasn’t enough to change the outlook of the management as the 2-2 GlobalPort tries to give Meralco its first blemish behind Warner.
“Inside presence sya. Kailangan namin ng ganun kasi depleted lineup talaga ang GlobalPort pagdating sa big man,” said its interim head coach Eric Gonzales.
It still is yet to be seen if Warner’s offensive game could bode well with GlobalPort’s guard-heavy lineups, but one thing which could go in its favor would be the element of surprise as the Bolts have yet to scout their new import. (RL)
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