The spotlight is no longer just on grand-slam chasing San Miguel Beermen and the PBA Governors Cup titleholder Barangay Ginebra.
Keen eyes are now also on the Meralco Bolts following a 2-0 tournament start that they hope to make three in a row as they take on the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in a Petron Blaze Saturday Special at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo.
Game time is at 5:15 p.m. with the Bolts looking to regain a piece of early lead with the NLEX squad while the Elasto Painters seek to bounce back from a loss to the Road Warriors the last time out.
“We’re okay with that (having less spotlight than San Miguel and Ginebra),” said Meralco coach Norman Black. “They’re two very good teams so they deserve whatever spotlight they get. We’re just trying to win games just like everybody else.”
The Bolts, however, are now also in close watch by everybody after a 107-78 rout of the Blackwater Elite followed by a 93-78 spanking of the Gin Kings in a rematch of the 2016 Governors Cup finals.
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“We do have the reigning Best Import, so that gives us the opportunity to do well,” said Black optimistic of again contending for the crown with their solid import Allen Durham.
He’s still his old prolific self, collecting 18 points and 21 rebounds against the Elite then piling up 30 markers, 24 boards and nine assists in a near triple-double job against the Gin Kings.
Durham said things could well be easier because of the improvement of his teammates.
"I got great teammates and you know they put a lot of work in the offseason. They made shots and when they make the shots, they make my job a lot easier," he said.
"I see these guys in practice and how much hard work they put in, and I have no problem passing it to them and they hit their shots like tonight and I do believe we’ll do pretty good this conference," Durham also said.
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Obviously still a work in progress is Rain or Shine under new coach Caloy Garcia.
They barely escaped past the GlobalPort Batang Pier, 98-96, then dropped their next game against NLEX, 114-122, in double overtime.
