Meralco looks to keep its winning streak alive, but Magnolia enters Friday’s showdown with added urgency as it aims to finally break into the win column in the PBA Governors’ Cup.
The Bolts and the Hotshots collide at 5:15 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in what promises to be a crucial Group B encounter. Meralco is eyeing its third victory in four games, while Magnolia is determined to avoid falling deeper into an early-season hole after dropping its first two outings.
Despite Magnolia’s 0-2 record, Meralco coach Luigi Trillo isn’t taking the Hotshots lightly. In fact, he believes it’s only a matter of time before the perennial contender finds its rhythm.
“You look at our group. Phoenix and Blackwater—those guys you’d think should be in the bottom of the standings—but our group’s the opposite,” said Trillo.
“They’re the ones leading now, and you’ve got good teams like Magnolia and Rain or Shine that are down. You know they’re better than what their records show.”
Trillo made the remarks after Meralco escaped with a thrilling 116-114 victory over Blackwater last Tuesday. His prediction has already proven partly true after Rain or Shine snapped its skid with a 105-98 win over previously unbeaten Phoenix.
Now, Trillo hopes Magnolia’s resurgence won’t come at Meralco’s expense.
The Hotshots have shown flashes of brilliance in their first two games, only to unravel late. They squandered a 17-point third-quarter lead in an 86-98 loss to Phoenix before letting an 11-point advantage slip away in an 81-89 defeat against Blackwater.
Magnolia’s inability to finish games has been its biggest obstacle, but the team remains dangerous, especially with its back against the wall.
For Meralco, concerns go beyond the opposition. The Bolts are coming off a physically and mentally draining stretch, with the Blackwater game marking their third match in just six days.
What appeared to be a comfortable victory quickly turned into a nail-biter after Blackwater mounted a furious fourth-quarter comeback, forcing Meralco to dig deep in the closing moments.
While Trillo credited Blackwater’s newfound toughness, veteran guard Chris Banchero admitted the Bolts also have lessons to learn.
“Being up by 17 and crumbling there is not what we want to do as a team,” Banchero said. “We’ll look at that next practice. When you’re up by 17, you’ve got to figure out how to put that team away.”
Banchero finished with 16 points and delivered the outlet pass that set up Chris Newsome’s game-winning basket.
With Meralco chasing momentum and Magnolia fighting to keep its campaign from slipping further, Friday’s clash shapes up as more than just another elimination-round game—it could be a defining early-season test for both teams.