CHRIS Newsome will have to step up for Meralco.
EXPECT filled galleries when the league’s top crowd drawers put another chapter in their rivalry this week.
Mega franchises Meralco and Barangay Ginebra reignite their competition in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup playoffs, with a best-of-three series.
“We wanted this,” said Meralco coach Luigi Trillo following their 129-92 loss to Magnolia Friday night at the PhilSports Arena.
The defeat didn’t change their fate—it was merely a formality as they had already locked in their quarterfinal matchup with the Gin Kings.
But it’s something they can build upon facing a team they haven’t conquered for the past several encounters.
“I know we’re 0-4 against them right now, including the last one. But we wanted this. We’re going through Ginebra, whether it’s now or later.”
For the Bolts, seeded fifth, the path to this showdown hasn’t been smooth.
After their stunning triumph over the Gin Kings in the Philippine Cup semifinals—where they went on to claim the championship—the momentum has stalled.
In the Bolts’ last two losses to Ginebra, though, they played without their import, Akil Mitchell, who was sidelined with back issues.
“Look at the games Akil missed,” Trillo said.
“We’re 7-2 when he’s been on the floor. We could’ve easily been 9-2. The only game we lost with him was against Converge, after coming back from the East Asia Super League in Korea. A lot of our key guys were coming back from injury and illness.”
Trillo added: “Had Akil been there for these past two games, I think we would’ve done better. And if we had won those, we’d be No. 1 right now. But it is what it is. The silver lining is that we have four or five days to prepare before the first game of the quarterfinals.”
Meantime, Ginebra, ranked No. 4, has not only been dominant on the court, but they’ve also built a team that is nearly at full strength.
“Ginebra has been playing well. That’s an all-star team,” Trillo said.
“They’ve added superstars all around—Troy Rosario, Jamie Malonzo’s back—and the dynamic between Stephen Holt and RJ Abarrientos that got us swept? It’s something we’re excited for.”
Yet as far as Trillo is concerned, the score between the Bolts and the Gin Kings starting this week is just 0-0.