(PBA image)
Meralco refused to hide behind excuses after absorbing a 109-102 defeat to an import-less Rain or Shine side that played with far more urgency Friday night in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
With Rain or Shine forced to play without suspended import Jaylen Johnson, the Elasto Painters responded by raising their intensity from the opening tip and never let up, dictating the pace in a wire-to-wire victory that handed the Bolts their first loss of the conference.
For Meralco coach Luigi Trillo, the difference was clear.
“We know this,” Trillo said after the game. “You can see yung gigil nila right from the start. Mas gigil sila in terms of banggaan. And buo ang loob nila.”
The Bolts entered the matchup with a size advantage behind 7-foot import Marvin Jones, but they failed to capitalize. Jones still finished with 17 points and 16 rebounds, yet Rain or Shine managed to shut him down completely in the second half, where he went scoreless.
Trillo did not mince words in assessing his team’s performance, especially on the defensive end, which he considers Meralco’s calling card.
“We did not do well. When you gave 29 and 31 points in the first and fourth quarter, I’m a defensive coach and I think our identity is defense. So play with fire and you get burned,” he said.
He added that Meralco simply failed to match Rain or Shine’s mindset and physicality.
“You just can’t come in there and just play basketball and have fun. You have to know your opponent and take away their strength,” Trillo said.
The loss spoiled what had been a strong start for the Bolts, who opened their campaign with back-to-back wins over Converge and Phoenix. Now at 2-1, Meralco will try to get back on track when it returns to action on Sunday against Titan Ultra Giant Risers.