DEFENDING PBA Philippine Cup champion Meralco rolled to three straight wins capped by a gutsy 82-73 victory over Ginebra last week to wind up its eliminations campaign.
With a 6-5 mark and momentum on their side, the Bolts are looking sharp going into the quarterfinals—but that will have to wait.
Meralco will open its bid in the Basketball Champions League Asia this weekend in Dubai—something that Bolts coach Luigi Trillo is treating with guarded optimism.
“We want to make lemonade out of lemons. We’re going to look at the goodness of it. It’s an opportunity for us to get uncomfortable,” Trillo said after the team left the country yesterday. “New’s (Chris Newsome) served in the national team, in the EASL, the PBA.
“We’re getting called again so, we just have to be ready. With that being said, there will be nine teams, one will get eliminated and we have two games,” he added.
Trillo and active consultant Nenad Vucinic’s wards were pooled in Group B along with Japan B. League titlist Utsunomiya Brez and last year’s BCL Asia bridesmaid Shabab Al Ahli.
FIBA West Asia Super League runner-up Tabiat Basketball of Iran, the Zhejiang Guangsha Lions of the Chinese Basketball Association, and Ulaanbaatar Xac Broncos of Mongolia make up Group A.
Reigning BCL Asia holder Al Riyadi banners Group C, together with Changwon LG Sakers of the Korean Basketball League, and the Taoyuan Pauian Pilots of the P.League+.
The tall odds stacked against his squad is not lost on Trillo but they are nonetheless ready to rise to the occasion.
“It’s going to be very hard there. We’ll have three new imports, and they don’t know what we’re running,” Trillo said.
“But again, it’s an honor and challenge for us to represent the Philippines and the PBA.”
There’s little room for error for the Bolts, according to Trillo.
“Every point is going to be important. Every defensive stop is going to be important kasi isa lang matatanggal. Walo ang papasok and then it becomes 8-4-2, I think,” Trillo said.
“So, we’re excited. But I think this is a good opportunity for us to spread our wings as well over there.”
For Newsome, they have their work cut out for them in the June 7 to 13 joust formerly known as the FIBA Asia Champions Cup.
“It’s going to be tough to go out there, compete at a high level internationally, and then come back. I think it’s going to be good for us because those are going to be high-quality games,” he said. “But like I said, it’s kind of an interesting scenario for us because, again, our chemistry is really good right now and the way we’re playing is really good right now. We’re playing at a high level. So, it’s going to take some teamwork all throughout our organization for the guys that aren’t traveling and then the guys that are playing.
“Coach Nenad and coach Luigi are good at that. I think you can credit the EASL for helping us to prepare for something like this. So, looking forward to it and looking forward to the playoffs, whoever we face.”
