By REYNALD MAGALLON
Parity in the PBA has been an issue and long talked about especially when there were only a few teams that had shared the ultimate glory the past years – to some even saying that the games are becoming less interesting and more predictable.
Before the start of the 2024 Philippine Cup Finals, Meralco wingman Allein Maliksi said that a championship for the Bolts this conference would dispel such notion and give the fans some semblance of parity.
“I think if Meralco wins, it will bring back the interest of the fans, na kaya palang manalo ng ibang teams. ‘Yun lang ‘yung dapat naming patunayan sa mga fans na hindi naman kami nandito lang to play, we are also competing for the championship. We’re not just trying to survive, gusto rin naming manalo,” said Maliksi two-weeks ago during the pre-Finals press conference.
And the Bolts did.
Meralco was the heavy underdog at the beginning of the series, some even predicting that they would only get swept by San Miguel, only to turn doubters into believers when they kept the defending champions on the rear for the most part of the series.
And then finishing them off through six games on a clutch go-ahead jumper from Chris Newsome was awesome.
Now, it’s not only Maliksi saying that the Meralco title is good for the league.
“When you look at our team, how we are built, any team in the PBA can come back and win a championship,” said Meralco forward Cliff Hodge.
“I’m sure this is good for the PBA. A lot of young guys are coming out and I know any team can win a championship now,” he added as the Bolts became the first team to win the Philippine Cup outside the four powerhouses San Miguel, Barangay Ginebra, Magnolia and TNT since Sta.Lucia in 2008.
Asked about his previous comments, Maliksi believes Meralco not only won its first franchise title but also earned the respect from the fans and the league especially with how the team pulled off the massive upset against SMB.
“We gained the respect of the fans we gained the respect of the league di ba kita mo naman pinaghirapan namin lahat ito hindi ito madali pero nauha namin so lahat ng sacrifices hard work it’s all worth it,” said Maliksi.
