MERALCO got its New Year’s wish: Start strong. That’s something TNT also intends to achieve.
Which team will succeed will be known when the Bolts take on the Tropang Giga tonight in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.
The match is set at 7:30 after the curtain-raiser pitting winless Terrafirma and Phoenix at 5 o’clock.
Meralco claimed the scalp of foreign guest team Eastern 88-83 last Sunday and jacked up its card to 4-2 in the mid-season tilt.
Bolts coach Luigi Trillo admitted his troops must bring their A-Games in a grueling schedule this week. After tonight’s tiff, they will clash with the NLEX Road Warriors on Friday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.
“Every game this week is gonna be tough,” Trillo said. “But (the holiday break) was a little bit good for us because we had some days off, especially (import) Akil (Mitchell).
“It’s big for us to have our guys back for them to be able to get their feet wet,” he added.
One crucial thing going for Meralco is the fact that most of its key players are back in harness, led by the likes of playmaker Chris Banchero, big men Brandon Bates and Raymond Almazan and rookie CJ Cansino.
Only veteran sniper Allein Maliksi is still sidelined due to bone spurs.
“I thought our guys were tough today, chasing off screens, bigs having to stay high, execute our pick-and-roll defense, and having to move back and defend,” Trillo said of their win over the visiting squad.
“This type of game we live for because it shows our character.”
But the Chot Reyes-mentored TNT side is coming off back-to-back victories and the much-needed respite before 2024 came to an end, including a 109-93 ripping of the Bossing last Dec. 19.
The Tropang Giga will bank on two-time best import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Calvin Oftana, Roger Pogoy, and veteran playmaker Jayson Castro to hike their 2-2 mark.
The Fuel Masters absorbed a 105-116 loss to the Converge FiberXers last Dec. 19 that dropped them to 1-5 while the Dyip fell to the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters last Dec. 22 and remained without a win after seven outings.
The revelry is over but expect fireworks in a pair of crucial battles.
