AFTER absorbing a couple of bumps that stalled its drive, Meralco resumes its PBA Philippine Cup campaign today when it takes on Terrafirma at the Don Honorio Ventura State University Gym in Bacolor, Pampanga.
The Bolts are finally returning to action after being put on isolation since Sept. 5 in accordance with the league’s health and safety protocols.
In that span, coach Norman Black and his charges reviewed what went wrong in their last game, a 76-91 loss to TNT last Sept. 3.
In the day’s only other game, NLEX and Blackwater square off, with the Road Warriors hoping to use the winless Bossing as stepping stone in their own bid to enhance their chances of making it among the top eight advancing to the quarterfinals.
Despite its enforced break, Meralco remained in second overall, a spot the Bolts intend to hang on to up to the end of the 11-game eliminations and be rewarded with a win-once advantage over a lower-ranked team in the quarterfinals.
Black is hoping the limited practices his team has had the last couple of days would be enough against a Terrafirma side that has its own agenda.
Currently running 10th, the Dyip are gunning to snap out of a two-game slide while keeping alive their hopes of at least playing off for a quarterfinals slot, which would be realized if they sweep their last two matches and those teams immediately above them would get no more than five wins.
To enhance its chances, Terrafirma is suiting up with Andreas Cahilig, who has sufficiently recovered from a sprained ankle early in an 84-96 loss to Phoenix Super LPG last Thursday.
Without the do-it-all workhorse, the Dyip also bowed to NorthPort 84-104 two days later.
Despite its cellar-dwelling 0-9 slate Blackwater should still prove to be a dangerous foe since it would be playing pressure-free after being taken out early in the race to the quarterfinals.
