Meralco Bolts claimed PBA 3×3 Season 3 Leg 1 title. –PBA IMAGES
The Meralco Bolts could hardly rejoice the vacation season due to a densely packed calendar.
And while coach Luigi Trillo admitted it was tough navigating around a frenetic schedule, he feels that his squad could snare something precious off of it—one that ought to turn out to be useful just a few weeks from now.
“You realize, it’s each good and bad,” he told the Inquirer over the phone. “The bad is, obviously there’s a whole lot of sacrifice [required from everyone]. But in the event you have a look at the nice, we’re playing quality games.”
After battling defending champion Barangay Ginebra on Dec. 22, Meralco took on the visiting Seoul SK Knights here in Manila five days later for the East Asia Super League’s home-and-away showcase.
The Bolts will then face NBA champion Jeremy Lin and the unbeaten Latest Taipei Kings on Jan. 3, again within the EASL, before having to quickly shift their sights back to PBA Commissioner’s Cup where they tangle with leader Magnolia on Jan. 6 after which No. 2 Phoenix in a pair of contests that may shape the race for twice-to-beat protection within the knockout rounds.
“Our last games were against high-level teams. Ginebra after which SK. Now Taipei. Those are champion if not championship-worthy teams, so it type of gets us sharp,” said Trillo, whose charges are No. 3 within the PBA conference at 6-2 and a powerful contender for that playoff bonus.
“Now, it’s all about preparing. Playoff basketball is upon us. There are a whole lot of things that would still occur, but we’ve [set our sights] on having to win no less than two of our next three (games).”
Meralco has been plotting heavily for the important thing PBA games ahead, and it will be interesting to see whether high-scoring but severely undersized import Zach Lofton will remain because the club’s import moving forward.
The Bolts have never made the championship series of the Commissioner’s Cup, but this current batch is making a powerful case to vary that.
Curiously, Trillo can be one in all three energetic PBA coaches to steer his club to a championship here up to now decade.
But those trivia are the farthest from the minds of anyone within the Bolts’ quarters.
“At this point, we just need to be consistent for the playoffs. This month has been about playing our greatest,” Trillo said. INQ
