Bolts, Painters brace for more physicality in rubber match
If Game 1 of the PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinals between Meralco and Rain or Shine was any indication, their do-or-die game will be rugged, to say the least.
Just ask Aaron Black, who had a hard time putting up 12 points in the Bolts’ 96-79 win over the Elasto Painters at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Sunday.
“We expect an early push from them. We have to be ready for that,” Black told the Inquirer. “We know they’ll come out with a lot of energy and aggressiveness.
“We have to make sure that we can compete on both ends of the floor and weather that storm because that storm is definitely coming,” he went on. “Rain or Shine is a really good team.”
Two-way street
Black turned in a commendable effort in the Meralco win that dashed the Elasto Painters’ twice-to-beat advantage. And while he snagged three rebounds, two assists and a steal, he had to do it against a physical Rain or Shine squad.
But the physicality didn’t go just one way. Even the Bolts dished off their own.
In one particular play in the fourth quarter, Bong Quinto was called for a charging foul on Adrian Nocum, with his elbow hitting the young swingman’s face.
However, this is the playoffs and coach Yeng Guiao didn’t expect anything less.
“Natural lang ‘yon (that’s natural),” Guiao said. “It’s nothing. Actually, we expect that, but of course, it’s a bit hard to see someone elbow your players.
“I don’t know if it was by accident or he was trying to intimidate my players, but that’s part of the game,” Guiao went on. “All those are part of the game, including the trash talks. It’s all part of it.”
In the end, it was Meralco who came out on top despite the rugged contest. But Monday may be a very different story.
The Bolts and the Elasto Painters face off one last time in the quarters for a chance to battle Season 49 Philippine Cup finalist TNT, which bundled out Magnolia in their quarterfinal matchup, in the semifinals.
