MERALCO is out to extend its perfect run so far against struggling Terrafirma.
Whether the Bolts can get the job done anew will be known when they square off with the winless Dyip today in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.
The match is set for 5 o’clock before TNT makes its debut against foreign guest team Eastern in the nightcap at 7:30 p.m.
Although Meralco is favored to hurdle Terrafirma, coach Luigi Trillo, however, is not one to look past their foes.
“Against Terrafirma we can’t let our guard down. Kailangan i-double pa namin ang effort,” Trillo said. “Sayang naman iyong pinaghirapan naming 2-0 (record) tapos pagdating sa Terrafirma baka talunin pa kami.
“Actually, they’ve been playing better without an import. Minsan humahabol sila, but iyon nga, kinakapos lang,” he added.
The Bolts will go into the duel on a high, having scored a 121-111 victory over the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in a game where they lost import Akil Micthell with just 11 seconds in the first quarter due to a broken nose.
Meralco’s EASL reinforcement DJ Kennedy was tapped to suit up while Micthell recuperates.
The Dyip have also given the pink slip to Ryan Richards reportedly due to back problems in lieu of Brandon Edwards.
“From what we heard, 6-foot-6 lang ito pero based sa reports mas maayos daw ito. May tira sa labas pero may galaw rin sa loob,” Trillo said.
“Mas in shape itong guy na ito kaysa the other one, Iyong isa (Richards) hindi talaga nakakatakbo. Ito, although undersized, mas may ibubuga.”
Edwards, the same import who was supposed to backstop Terrafirma in the last Governors’ Cup but suffered a pre-season injury.
Trillo has high hopes on Kenndy who will team up with locals Chris Newsome, Bong Quinto, Raymond Almazan, Cliff Hodge, and Aaron Black.
“Si DJ matches up better sa wings. Kung kalaban mo (Blackwater import George) King, aside from (Cliff) Hodge and Jansen (Rios), puwede mo siyang itapat doon,” Trillo said.
“Just like (TNT’s Rondae) Jefferson or Brownlee, he’s a matchup nightmare kasi puwede mo siyang gamitin sa 1 to 4.”
Terrafirma will bank on Vic Manuel, Aljun Melecio, Kevin Ferrer, and Stanley Pringle in its bid to rebound from an 85-104 drubbing at the hands of NLEX last Tuesday that dropped the Dyip to 0-3.
Two new imports are raring to promptly make a big impact for their teams aching to emerge victorious.
