MERALCO has been longing to find the right pieces to finally essay a checkmate victory on Ginebra.
The Bolts have tried hard, but the Kings have managed to find a way out in their last three battles.
Al Panlilio, Meralco’s representative to the PBA Board, is not losing hope, however, and has even suggested a ploy on how the Bolts can topple the Kings —Meralco needs more firepower aside from import Tony Bishop.
“Hopefully it’s our time this time, but I guess I just want to say to (coach) Norman (Black) and the players of Meralco that (Tony) Bishop cannot checkmate a king (alone), right?”
Panlilio said yesterday in the league’s pre-finals press conference at the Novotel Hotel Manila.
“So, I think you need to have a queen and a rook to checkmate a king. That’s our challenge in Meralco; we want to make it competitive and hopefully we’ll win the series,” he added.
Game 1 of the best-of-seven finals of the PBA Governors Cup is set tomorrow, Wednesday, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Ginebra coach Tim Cone maintained his team’s recent success against Meralco no longer matters.
“As a group, as a team, we don’t really think about what happened in the past. We just try to stay focused on what we have right now. So, we haven’t really discussed the part 1 or part 2 or whatever,” Cone said.
“It’s just really what’s in front of us right now and that’s trying to win a championship. We do know that Meralco is gonna be greatly motivated and they always are. They’re incredibly coached and they seem to get better every year.”
The Kings wound up as the sixth-ranked squad after the elimination round and negated the TNT Tropang Giga’s twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals to reach the semifinals.
Ranged against No. 2 NLEX in the semis, Ginebra sent the Road Warriors packing in four games to gain a chance at defending the season-ending crown it won two years ago before the killer COVID-19 pandemic forced the PBA to settle for import-less tourneys in 2020 and 2021.
For Bolts tactician Norman Black, his charges are out to seize the opportunity to finally get one over the Kings.
“It’s a blessing to be back in the PBA finals, something you have to cherish because it doesn’t happen all the time. Happy for my players and happy for the corporation. When we get to the finals you really want to take the opportunity,” Black said.
“Yes, we haven’t beaten them the last three times we faced them but we’re hoping this will be the time to beat them.”
Meralco finished fourth in the eliminations and beat San Miguel Beer in the quarterfinals before ousting Magnolia in the semis, a series that went the full five matches.
Pro league Commissioner Willie Marcial is convinced the finals could go the distance which will be good for the fans.
“Ginebra versus Meralco for the nth time itong epic saga na mangyayari sa atin. Two champion coaches, two grand slam coaches, two great teams, ang matutuwa ay ang mga fans. Three years na tayong hindi nakakapag-live ng finals since 2020 at ngayon lang ulit makakapanood ang mga fans,” he said.
“Magandang treat sa mga fans, makakapanood ng live at Ginebra-Meralco pa. Asahan ninyo para sa akin it will be a long series.”
