Bolts get baptism of fire in Philippine Cup finals
IT’S GOING to be a trial by fire for sure against powerhouse San Miguel Beer (SMB).
And much like in the semifinal series against Barangay Ginebra, The Meralco Bolts need all hands on deck to bolster its chance of success in the PBA Philippine Cup finals versus holder SMB.
The Bolts edged the Gin Kings, 4-3, in a marathon series that entailed a brave, concerted effort from veterans like Chris Newsome, Chris Banchero, Allein Maliksi, Raymond Almazan and Bong Quinto and rookie Brandon Bates.
“Everybody’s picking up each other,” Meralco mentor Luigi Trillo said about the team’s strength that served them well against Ginebra on their way to a maiden All-Filipino Last Dance for the franchise.
“Heroes all over and we’re going to need everybody again when we face San Miguel because San Miguel, we know they’re a deep team.”
The burden of further leveling up is heavier on the shoulders of Mr. Almazan and Mr. Bates, who will be up against SMB behemoth June Mar Fajardo, the Alpha Beerman himself.
Mr. Trillo expects a lot from Mr. Bates, who more than held his own against Christian Standhardinger in the previous series. The 6-foot-8 Fil-Australian even had six blocks — the most since Fajardo also had blocked six shots in last season’s Commissioner’s Cup playoffs — in the clincher versus the Gin Kings.
“I said it before the (semis) series, Brandon would be big for us because Raymond (Almazan is) doing his share, Kyle (Pascual is) doing his share, (also) Norbert (Torres). I’m sure these guys appreciate the things that Brandon does,” Mr. Trillo said.
“He’s (Bates) going to be huge in the next series,” he added.
Mr. Bates, Meralco’s eighth overall pick in this year’s rookie draft, is ready for the gargantuan task. “I know my role. I know my role isn’t going to be to score 10 to 12 points. It’s going to be getting those defensive rebounds, you have blocks, challenge shots,” he said.
So, I’ve just accepted my role. It’s why I was drafted,” said the center from La Salle.
Bates shared watching a lot of videos of Standhardinger to “semi-know his moves” last time. He’d do so again in the matchup with the seven-time MVP Fajardo.
If they can somehow contain “the Kraken,” there’s still the problem of dealing with SMB’s vast arsenal that includes CJ Perez, Chris Ross, Jericho Cruz, Mo Tautuaa and Don Trollano.
“We believe in our guys. We have a deep team as well, character guys over here and it’s going to be a good series,” said Trillo. — Olmin Leyba