Bolts test Fuel Masters with playoff in sight
Coach Luigi Trillo believes Meralco can chart its playoff path without having to rely on the results of other teams in the PBA 50th Season Philippine Cup.
“The quarterfinal [slot] is there for the taking,” he said, adding that as long as the Bolts take care of business, they’ll book their ticket to the next round.
“If we win our last three games, we might get to the Top 4,” Trillo added.
The tournament format awards the top four finishers in the elimination round the twice-to-beat bonus—a pretty neat incentive to have when facing teams in a knockout situation.
Meralco gets a chance to go for one of those wins when it battles Phoenix at Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Friday.
The Bolts face the Fuel Masters in the second game of a doubleheader that starts at 5:30 p.m., with Barangay Ginebra, also looking to seal a playoff spot, taking on a broken Terrafirma.
The Fuel Masters anticipate a tough battle against the Bolts and rookie coach Willie Wilson is hoping a strong effort on both sides of the court will keep Phoenix’s bid alive.
“In my team, I expect everyone to play hard on both offense and defense,” Wilson said. “It’s how I played. It is how I was coached. And it is how I coach.”
Meralco owns a 4-4 slate, slightly better than Phoenix’s 3-6, but Trillo feels his Bolts can’t let their guard down.
“Every game is a playoff game for us,” said Trillo, who expects Phoenix to be in survival mode on Friday.
Five teams are already in the quarterfinals: Rain or Shine (7-2), San Miguel Beer (6-2), Converge (6-3), Magnolia (6-3) and NLEx (6-3). TNT is virtually in with its 5-2 record, leaving just two open seats and three teams still with a chance at either of the open slots.
