MERALCO coach Luigi Trillo and his charges arrived first at the Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria in Quezon City yesterday for the PBA Philippine Cup finals launch.
Whether the Bolts were trying to send a message to the mighty and defending champions San Miguel Beermen or it was just by chance, one thing’s certain–the Bolts are out to show they are no pushover and gatecrasher in the Big Dance.
SMB counterpart Jorge Gallent agreed, which explains why they are not taking Meralco lightly.
“We’re just gonna try hard. We’re gonna play hard. We’re gonna have fun and compete,” Gallent said. “I know we are playing (against) a team that is full of energy that likes to play defense.
“It’s also a well-coached team and we just have to match their energy to get a chance at winning the championship,” he added.
Game 1 of the best-of-7 Big Dance for the pro league’s crown jewel is set tomorrow, Wednesday, at 7:30 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, with the combatants gunning for a crucial head start.
Despite the huge odds, Trillo is taking the race-to-4 series with guarded optimism, especially after the Bolts rallied from a 2-3 deficit in the semifinals against fancied Ginebra to reach the title round for the first time in an import-less tilt.
“We have a lot of respect for that organization. But we believe in our guys. Coach Nenad (Vucinic, active consultant) keeps on preaching that,” Trillo said. “I personally believe that we have enough, but it’s not going to be easy.
“From our point of view, we just want to focus on our game plan. We don’t know what will come out there, what’s going to happen. But we’re excited to be here.”
Unlike Meralco, the Beermen will enjoy the luxury of rest heading into the finals after completing a semis sweep of the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters capped by a 107-100 victory last May 24.
SMB only lost twice in the season-ending meet–its first defeat a 92-95 setback at the hands the Bolts in the eliminations in Batangas City.
That’s irrelevant now.
“We’ve already been to a lot of games in the PBA na alam natin that one game won’t define our series,” Trillo said. “One thing that we noticed with them is that they’re going to be ready, they’ve got experience, they’re well-coached, and their management is all out in support of them.”
Gallent echoed Trillo’s sentiments, saying: “The only thing that happened there, it was a game where our minds were on the sweep but as Luigi said their backs were against the wall. If they lost that game, they would not make it to the playoff.
“So, they played their hearts out, we also played our hearts out to get the sweep, but that didn’t happen. But it’s done. We’ve learned from our mistakes in that game, and we just have to get better.”
The finals will also be a full circle moment for veteran Beerman Chris Ross.
“I actually played in Meralco’s first game in the PBA so it’s kind of a full-circle moment for me,” Ross said. “It’s kind of a proud moment for me that they’re able to reach this stage.
It’s cool for me to play their first game in the PBA and then I’ll play against them in their first game in the Philippine Cup finals.
