KIA's celebrations for ending an eight-month losing spell may be short-lived.
And it could be Meralco's turn to do some merry-making after the match between the Bolts and Picanto Wednesday in the PBA Philippine Cup's return to the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Meralco is hoping to cut short an alarming three-game slide and its task should be made easier with Cliff Hodge finally seeing action and Kia's manpower problems.
Hodge, who had bone spurs removed during the off-season, actually suited up in the Bolts' game against TNT last Sunday, but remained on the bench as his team lost, 81-99.
For its part, Kia is seeking to follow up its 98-94 win over Rain or Shine last Saturday, snapping the Picanto out of a 16-game drought dating back to the last Commissioner's Cup.
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The victory, the Picanto's first in five games in this season-opening tourney, came with a cost, however.
For instigating a first half scuffle with Elasto Painter center Raymond Almazan, which caused their banishment from the match, Eric Camson was fined and suspended for one game.
That leaves Kia with a shallower frontline, what with injuries to Jackson Corpuz (fractured left wrist) and JayR Reyes (calf strain).
That does little to dampen the Picanto's enthusiasm, according to coach Ricky Dandan. "We will be playing with confidence gained from our first win last Saturday," he said.
"We know that we will be up against another contender and that is motivation enough for us to just keep on fighting together to have a chance."
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Reyes and new acquisition Carlo Lastimosa, yet to fully recover from a left ankle sprain, may be fit enough to see action. But if they don't, Dandan said his remaining players must step up like what they did against Rain or Shine.
"We will have a 'next player' mentality," said Dandan.
