Games Today
(Ninoy Aquino Stadium)
5 p.m. – Phoenix vs San Miguel
7:30 p.m. – TNT vs Meralco
By REYNALD MAGALLON
It’s a clash between two champion teams going through similar fates as TNT and Meralco try to keep their momentum going following slow starts in the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, Sunday, May 11.
With both squads finally overcoming the losing streaks to open the conference, the Bolts and the Tropang 5G tangle in the 7:30 p.m. affair with hopes of finally going into a winning stretch halfway through their respective schedules.
A clash between San Miguel and Phoenix is set to provide the fitting appetizer in the first offering at 5 p.m.
TNT, after winning the first two conferences this season, was off to a bumpy start in the Philippine Cup after losing their first three games before finally getting their groove with back-to-back wins against San Miguel and Terrafirma.
Similarly, Meralco, the reigning all-Filipino Cup champions, after opening their title-retention bid with two victories, slumped into a three-game skid, before finally regaining its winning ways with a come-from-behind 105-104 win over NorthPort.
Between the two teams, however, there’s much greater pressure on the part of the Bolts especially that they are in the middle of a compact schedule in the coming days to give way to their preparations for the Basketball Champions League Asia in June.
“We look at it also at the bright spot. At least, you know, you get your rhythm in. You know, there’s a chance. There’s four days. Maybe this one might be the hardest to stretch, because we have three games in five days,” pointed out Meralco head coach Luigi Trillo.
Although Chris Newsome, Bong Quinto, Cliff Hodge and Aaron Black are expected to carry the load for the Bolts, Trillo is expecting his bench to step up to give the starters some relief during the busy stretch.
“New(some) today had 42 minutes. Cliff at 37. I’d like to see our bench also help our vets out.
Because three games in five days is hard. But, you know, we welcome that. We’re just being told we’re going to be good soldiers,” he added.
