By REYNALD MAGALLON
Fourteen years. thirty-four total conferences. and four Finals heartbreaks.
That’s how much it took before Meralco finally tasted a long-coveted glory in the PBA.
And while it seemed to be a long time coming for a franchise that has always been the ‘almost-champion’ and the only ‘uncrowned’ among the league’s contenders, the Bolts first-ever championship by no means was easy.
Not when at one point in the conference, they were at the bottom of the standings and in danger of missing the playoffs altogether.
And not when they were faced up against the mighty San Miguel who for the past decade has been just running over its Philippine Cup opponents.
Nobody really gave the Bolts the chance. Except for themselves. Armed with faith and belief, which became the team’s battle-cry in the Finals, they pulled off an upset for the ages.
A Cinderella run that was capped by a familiar baseline fadeaway from its undisputed leader in Chris Newsome to pull the rug from under SMB, 80-78 in Game 6 and deliver the franchise’s first championship.
It was a storybook ending. A fitting one at that.
“Surreal for us. We’ve been together. We’ve been working closely together just proud of the ways these guys battle through it,” said head coach Luigi Trillo who along with active consultant Nenad Vucinic formed the brain trust that solved what was once a daunting puzzle that was June Mar Fajardo and San Miguel.
As the Bolts bask in glory, celebrate in tears and savor the moment that was once only part of their imaginations, they could not help but look back to all the struggles that they went through and remember all the people that had stuck with the team through thick and thin.
“It’s very special for those guys that have been part of the organization since Day 1. Our ball boys, our utility and some of the staff there. This is all for them,” said Newsome who also extended his dedication for those outside of their team but was a big part of the electric company.
“The Meralco employees, all the linesmen risking their lives to have the power on for us. Those are the things that go unnoticed and all we have to do out there is play and represent them so I’m honored and proud to be able to bring that championship for Meralco,” he added.
The first-ever championship seemingly also erased all the pains and heartaches of its first four defeats in 2016, 2017, 2019 and 2021 – all at the hands against its bitter rival Barangay Ginebra.
Making the title all the more fitting, the Bolts eliminated the Kings in the semifinals in a thrilling seven-game series to somehow give redemption to that Finals losses and deliver the first championship for longest tenured Meralco players in Cliff Hodge, Anjo Caram and even former-player turned assistant coach Reynel Hugnatan.
It was also the first PBA title for Chris Banchero after losing all of his first three Finals. Even Allein Maliksi was finally a champion again after 10 years.
“For some of those guys, we’re happy for them. Cliff Hodge, 13 years, his first championship. CB, his first championship, New, his first championship. It wasn’t easy getting there. They’ve been through four finals appearances, a lot of pain, to gut it out this way, and to really earn it,” said Trillo.
“It’s very fulfilling for us. It wasn’t like it was an easy time all the way. We really had to earn this one,” he added.
