Meralco gets Govs’ Cup stint with authoritative conquest of Rain or Shine

With the best and healthy players, Meralco coach Norman Black is confident that the Bolts can return to a competitive level.

“So with that back in the lineup, I think we can compete with anybody,” Black said, referring to Chris Newsome, after the Bolts opened their season-ending PBA Governor’s Cup campaign with a 105-87 loss to the Rains. or Shine Elasto Painters is at the PhilSports Arena.

“I’m not saying we’ll be favorites to win the championship in the PBA, but we can definitely compete,” Black added as Meralco began its campaign on the right foot after a disappointing Commissioner’s Cup.

Much of that had to do with the absence of Newsome, who strained his calf in the first game of the midseason tournament and never got a chance to see more action as the Bolts slipped to a 4-8 record.

It’s a surprising streak of five consecutive trips to the semifinals, something that Black and company will try to atone for immediately.

“I’ve said at the beginning, if Newsome is healthy and he’s with the team, I don’t think we’ll make it to the end of the conference,” Black said. “It’s hard to lose your best player and expect you to perform at the same level as before.”

“Unless you are a [Barangay] Geneva or St. Michael [Beer]and they have many good players and [they can] just replace one after the other. We don’t have that kind of luxury,” he said.

Elasto Painters import Michael Qualls could only produce 14 points, far from the 53 he churned out when the two teams met in a tuneup game almost a week ago at the Meralco gym.

“It was probably a blessing in disguise, actually,” Black said after Qualls’ big defensive assignment.

In the nightcap, Converge, handed the new NorthPort coach Bonnie Tan a rough debut after the 122-92 destruction of Batang Pier that capped off the first doubleheader of the conference last season.

Meanwhile, PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial announced that the All-Star Game set from March 9 to 12 in Passi City, Iloilo, will use a format where fans can choose 24 players who will be separated through the drafting process.

The format, with the captains being the top two vote-getters, is similar to the current format used in the NBA as the league is set to hold its annual classic for the first time since 2019 in Calasiao, Pangasinan.

Meralco took the first step in its quest to get back on track, with Newsome scoring 10 points despite shooting four of 12, five rebounds and six assists in 38 minutes.

Newsome got some playing time with Aaron Black due to injury and Chris Banchero, who was the top local scorer with 17, overcame cramps in the second half.

“He came in and did a great job of holding down the fort for us, playing good defense and also controlling the team offensively,” said the Bolts mentor.

Meralco’s redemption tour also includes KJ McDaniels, who has looked impressive after appearing in the last six games of the Commissioner’s Cup to replace the ineffective Johnny O’Bryant.

McDaniels also gave the Bolts reason to be confident in their chances. He finished with 27 points and 23 rebounds, capped off with a pair of dunks in the fourth quarter when the game was in the bag.

Rain or Shine’s defeat that must have disappointed coach Yeng Guiao spoiled the return of James Yap, who surprised everyone with his production.

Yap came off the bench to score 12 of his 14 points in the second quarter, including a three-pointer with 0.8 seconds left that made it 54. INQ

Analyze your weekly exercise

Read Next

For suggestions, complaints, or questions, please contact us.