Upgraded Meralco Bolts like chances of winning title either against Ginebra or TNT

WITH veteran Ranidel de Ocampo, and young players like Garvo Lanete and Mike Tolomia now in the lineup, Meralco coach Norman Black feels his team has upgraded from last season, thus liking his chances more of winning the championship against either Barangay Ginebra San Miguel or TNT.

“Definitely it’s an upgrade,” Mr. Black told Business World in a telephone interview. “We didn’t have Ranidel, Mike and Garvo last year and having them in our lineup now means we have surrounded our import Allen Durham with floor spacers.”

In last year’s Governors’ Cup, the Bolts made their first ever finals appearance in franchise history, but they lost Jared Dillinger due to injury and even veteran Jimmy Alapag, who was playing in his final season, played hurt. They eventually lost to the Gin Kings in six games as Ginebra import Justin Brownlee hit a buzzer-beating trey to cap an exciting finale.

This time, the Bolts felt they are more ready to win the championship.

They easily dispatched the Star Hotshots, whom they dismissed in a three-game sweep in their semifinal series. For now, the Bolts await the winner of the Gin Kings-Tropang Texters showdown, but Mr. Black and his crew won’t be playing until Friday the 13th and the long rest will certainly benefit them moving forward.

“We have players who are playing hurt,” added Black. “Cliff Hodge had a severe ankle sprain and has been playing hurt, so as Baser Amer. The long rest would certainly benefit them not to mention the fact that the team has been playing 17 days of nonstop basketball. But that’s the way it is in the playoffs.”

“We like our chances now. The inclusion of our new players has definitely upgraded our lineup.”

Meralco, however, will miss the services of Kelly Nabong, who has been suspended indefinitely by Mr. Black after figuring in an altercation with assistant coach Jimmy Alapag.

The Bolts are still preparing for the finals even though they still don’t know who are they going to face, but for Mr. Black, it’s a way to keep them sharp while also anticipating some of the key things where they need to focus on.

“We’ve been working on some stuff, particularly when they double on Durham. We felt they will be doing that against us more often,” added Mr. Black. “On the other hand, we’re also preparing on the isolation plays which might be thrown against us either against Brownlee or Glen Rice, Jr.” —