WHILE the jury is still out on Terrafirma, Meralco coach Luigi Trillo is the first to admit his charges cannot look past the Dyip.
“Sa ngayon, you can see that they’re gelling well,” Trillo said. “They’re playing as a team so not only do they have the pieces, mga solid na tatlo o apat, pero pati iyong ibang players nila maganda ngayon ang inilalaro.
“I think these next few days or a couple of weeks are gonna kind of define the teams,” he added.
Whether the Bolts can rise to the challenge will be known when they take on the Dyip today in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The match is set at 4:30 p.m., with the combatants out to do an encore to their big wins the last time out.
Buoyed by a breakthrough triumph, Rain or Shine faces winless Converge in the nightcap at 7:30.
Meralco ripped Ginebra 91-73 last March 15 before the pro league went into the All-Star and Holy Week break.
Trillo could not emphasize the importance of showing up with their A-Games as the eliminations near the homestretch.
“Everybody’s looking for placing,” Trillo said. “So, some teams at the top can cement themselves in their positions, and some of the lower teams can come back to life.”
Trillo will rely on the likes of Allein Maliksi, Cliff Hodge, Chris Newsome, Bong Quinto, Aaron Black, and Raymond Almazan in their bid to hike their 2-3 mark.
Terrafirma tactician Johnedel Cardel shared Trillo’s sentiments.
“Last six games namin dapat maka-tatlo man lang kami,” Cardel said. “Kaya lang mabigat.
After Meralco, Ginebra naman on Sunday, tapos San Miguel (Beer) next Wednesday.
“Pero bilog naman ang bola, saka sa iginagalaw ng team ngayon kita mo na talagang determinado lahat.”
Stephen Holt, Juami Tiongson, Isaac Go, and Javi Gomez de Liaño are expected to show the way for the Dyip–players that gnaw at Trillo.
“To me, sila Holt, Juami, Go and Javi are playing very well so may mga piyesa talaga sila, that’s why they’re doing well,” Trillo said.
After dropping their first four outings, the Elasto Painters notched a 100-85 whipping of the Phoenix Fuel Masters last March 17.
Adrian Nocum, Leonard Santillan, Jhonard Clarito, and veterans Beau Belga and Gabe Norwood will be counted upon anew by Rain or Shine to deliver.
With a 0-5 slate, counting a 75-106 defeat at the hands of the Magnolia Hotshots last March 16, the FiberXers will draw strength from Justin Arana, Alec Stockton, Bryan Santos, and Schonny Winston.
