BOLTS NEED SPARK PLUG AS TEAM DROPS TO 1-3

HAVING just practiced thrice as a team prior to the start of the Season 48 PBA Philippine Cup, Meralco got off to a slow start with its 1-3 record.

The Bolts opened the new conference with a 93-96 loss to the Blackwater Bossing before hammering out a 121-117 overtime win against the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.

Meralco, however, lost its next two games, a 96-99 decision to NLEX, followed by an 85-90 loss to NorthPort last Sunday.

As far as coach Luigi Trillo is concerned, the culprit for the team’s three losses thus far has been its inconsistent defense.

“We had to tumble into the conference with three practices only, but I thought we had some good solid moments in the Blackwater, NLEX and NorthPort games, but we have to be more solid all around,” Trillo told The Manila Times.

Trillo admitted that the Bossing and the Road Warriors managed to beat them, as the Bolts allowed their respective go-to-guys Rey Nambatac and Robert Bolick to take over the game.

Nambatac banged in 27 points and had 10 assists in leading Blackwater to the narrow win.

On the other hand, Bolick dropped 16 of his game-high 28 markers to help the Batang Pier outscore the Bolts, 35-24, en route to the comefrom-behind win.

“These teams’ talents have caught up with the middle-tier teams, and anybody can beat anybody now. Those draft picks are making impacts,” noted Trillo.

Against NorthPort, Meralco shot itself on its foot after turning the ball over 25 times, with the Batang Pier converting to 31 points.

Trillo, though, is not pressing the panic button, convinced that Meralco has enough “high character” players who can handle the pressure this early.

“We will figure it out. We have a lot of highcharacter guys in the locker room,” he said.

Meralco swings back to action this Friday and will try to snap from back-to-back defeats as the team plays Barangay Ginebra.