September 21, 2017

Black convinced GlobalPort not easy match-up for Meralco

Meralco primes up for an expected slam-bang battle with San Miguel Beer Sunday as the Bolts take on the GlobalPort Batang Pier in the third to the last play date of the PBA Governors Cup eliminations at the MOA Arena in Pasay City Friday.

The Bolts are at second place behind the Barangay GInebra Kings (8-2) but, at 7-2, still need to get going in their closing games in the elims to secure a Top Four finish and a twice-to-beat incentive in the quarterfinals.

The Batang Pier, meanwhile, will be out to salvage some measure of respect in their last game in the season.

The Bolts and the Batang Pier clash at 7 p.m. succeeding another setto pitting a quarterfinal qualifier and an eliminated rival - Star versus Kia.

Meralco coach Norman Black said they would handle GlobalPort with a lot of caution, knowing well that the Batang Pier would not just roll over and die.

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GlobalPort is out of the playoff race, but the game has bearing in its bid for a better finish. A win gives the Batang Pier a ninth-place windup, ahead of the Alaska Milk Aces, the Phoenix Fuel Masters and the Kia Picanto. A loss relegates them to 10th behind the Aces.

Black is convinced GlobalPort is not an easy matchup for them, and they need to defend well especially against Terrence Romeo, Stanley Pringle and new import Jamal Thomas.

For one, Romeo promises to make up for his misconduct in their last game against the Blackwater Elite, resulting to his ejection just midway through the second quarter.

Thinking he was hit with a cheap shot by Henry Walker, Romeo threw the ball at the Blackwater import for a flagrant foul penalty 2.

"Akala ko binanatan ako. At dahil trailing kami, frustrated na rin ako," said Romeo on his uncalled for act.

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Romeo and his teammates vow to go for a victory before taking their early vacation.
The Bolts, meanwhile, are determined to build momentum heading to their much-anticipated battle with the Beermen Sunday.

Allen Durham and his teammates won their last two games against the Star Hotshots (96-90) and the Alaska Milk Aces (106-78) thus jacking up their record to 7-2.