Trillo, with RHJ, creates good memories in–and for–Cebu
CEBU CITY—The Cebu Coliseum holds a lot of memories for Meralco coach Luigi Trillo, going back to the days when he was an assistant coach for the Cebu Gems in the defunct Metropolitan Basketball Association almost three decades ago.
“We made the Finals and lost to Manila. That [team had coach] Louie Alas and Alex Compton while we had hometown hero, Dondon Hontiveros,” he said.
“I stayed here for almost a year. That Manila team was tough. That was a solid team,” he added, showing a low-quality video that resembled a media relic to the press through his phone.
The Gems lost to the Manila Metrostars back in 1999, with the clincher held at Cebu Coliseum.
Twenty-six years later, Trillo created a better memory—and he had a lot of help.
Led by Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, the Bolts notched a second straight victory after trashing the Macau Black Bears, 92-74, at Cebu Coliseum late Saturday.
Providing highlight-reel points, Hollis-Jefferson led a strong second quarter by Meralco, which took a 10-point lead at the break that it used as a cushion the rest of the way.
“Rondae is one of the fiercest competitors I ever played against. He’s the same every time. He approaches the game in the same way,” teammate Chris Newsome said. “He motivates the guys around him, he makes his teammates go harder. Whenever you feel like you can’t anymore, RHJ is someone who will motivate you.”
The Hollis-Jefferson show, and the victory, was exactly what Trillo wanted as he was looking to put on a show for the Cebuanos, who badly needed one if only to distract them from a recent string of tragedies.
“We’re playing for something more than just us. We’re playing for a crowd that was struck by typhoons and an earthquake,” Trillo said before the game.
“We’re coming in for a good cause. We have to earn the respect of the crowd because it also has a good cause.”
And while things were far different from the last time he set foot inside the city’s historic coliseum, other things remained unchanged.
“Well, now [the coliseum is] air-conditioned. Before it was hot. The fans were some of the loudest, though. I have fond, fond memories of this place,” he said.
“I’ve been saying, if not Manila, Cebu would be a nice home base for us.”
The Gems stint wasn’t Trillo’s only brush with passionate basketball fans from the south.
Back in 2013, Trillo and the Bolts faced off against Talk N’ Text (TNT’s former name) in the same venue during the Philippine Cup.
