PBA: Bolts are at the identical street as ultimate 12 months’s name run

Meralco’s Chris Newsome. Photo: PBA Images

Meralco is in a equivalent trail it took ultimate season when the Bolts overcame adversity past due within the removing segment to finish a dream run to the PBA Philippine Cup crown.

Could the Bolts pull off a reproduction of that Cinderella end this 12 months?

“I wish it would be that easy,” stated trainer Luigi Trillo after Meralco’s 103-85 win over Blackwater on Wednesday at Ynares Center right here in Antipolo City that snapped a two-game skid.

Before the blowout they passed to the slumping Bossing, the Bolts had been at 3-5 after soaking up back-to-back losses and likewise performed minus veteran Cliff Hodge, who served a one-game suspension for his bad foul at the Magnolia Hotshots’ Zavier Lucero.

But Chris Newsome set the tone with 9 of 19 issues within the first quarter and likewise completed with seven rebounds and 3 steals, CJ Cansino had 14 whilst Brandon Bates, Chris Banchero and Raymar Jose additionally made key contributions within the rout.

“Sometimes when your backs are against the wall, it shows your character,” stated Trillo. “We had been 1-3 and 3-5 [last year]. I believe what’s great about this workforce is there are such a large amount of just right folks. Our freshmen are high-character, our leaders are high-character.

“So we don’t want it to be 3-5, it’s not what we planned. I think teams are really playing well and we had our shortcomings, but we’re lucky that at least we won this one, and in convincing fashion. And there was no let-up. But now, it gets harder.”

Stinging loss

Up subsequent for the Bolts is a difficult matchup with the streaking NLEX Road Warriors on Sunday at Philsports Arena in Pasig City prior to wrapping up the eliminations on May 30 in opposition to Barangay Ginebra at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Winning each video games can provide Meralco the most efficient place it may be for the playoffs, your next step in its quest to copy.

A stinging loss to the suffering Converge FiberXers despatched the Bolts to that 3-5 slate within the 2024 version of the all-Filipino match, however went directly to win the overall 3 video games of the eliminations, together with victories over the Hotshots and the San Miguel Beermen.

They used that run to head on a stirring run to the Finals, dispatching the Road Warriors within the quarters and getting rid of Ginebra in a semifinal collection that went the total seven video games prior to shocking the Beermen for the championship.

Mirroring that, as Trillo stated, might be more uncomplicated stated than executed.

Meanwhile, Blackwater fell to 1-5 within the standings with a 3rd directly defeat regardless of 24 issues from Christian David and 23 from rookie Sedrick Barefield.