By REYNALD MAGALLON
Always the bridesmaid, but never the bride.
Cliff Hodge admitted that he had faced so many doubts if he could ever become a PBA champion during his 13-year tenure with Meralco especially after coming close numerous times in the past but only to suffer heartbreaks one after another.
But there was light at the end of the tunnel as they say.
And it came for Hodge and the Bolts in the most unexpected time when they pulled off a massive upset of San Miguel in the 2024 PBA Philippine Cup Finals — the franchise’s first-ever title in the league.
“Every year goes by every opportunity, and as I get older I was like can we get it done?” said Hodge who was one of the longest tenured Bolt in the roster alongside Anjo Caram and former player-turned-assistant coach Reynel Hugnatan
“Even in this conference when we were down, having to win all of our last games just to get to the playoff,” referring to the Bolts’ rough start to the conference that put them, at one point, in danger of missing out on the playoffs altogether.
While battling his inner doubts, the blue-collar Hodge said he continued to focus on the work, dive for every loose ball and hustle for every possession.
“There’s always doubt if you can actually win. It’s just a lot about trust, just think about the next possession, the next play. All the work that you put in all you only hope that it will pay off the best way,” he added.
Indeed, it paid off.
Thanks to a clutch fadeaway jumper from Chris Newsome and Hodge, and other Meralco big men’s stellar effort in containing June Mar Fajardo all-series long, he can now call himself a champion.
“I’ve been waiting for this for so long but man, finally a champion,” said Hodge.
“That’s the main thing that I wanted to do, win a championship and I finally got it. They can’t say anything now, that I havent won a championship so I’m extremely happy and extremely blessed,” he added.
