CHICAGO - If Meralco were to win its best-of-seven series against Ginebra that is now tied at 1-1, the Bolts will need a higher power beyond their skills and old-fashioned hard work.
That's because officiating has so far been, let me just say, uneven.
In their 92-88 Game One loss last Friday, the Bolts lamented the officiating dotted with a bevy of missed and non-calls.
It only got worse in Game Two on Sunday where Ginebra enjoyed a 39-17 edge in free throw attempts. Christian Standhandinger alone went to the charity stripe an astounding 23 times.
Also, Meralco got whistled for 34 fouls against Ginebra's 24. The first five fouls called in the fourth quarter were against the Bolts, putting them in a very early penalty situation.
Somehow, Meralco overcame all of that by hitting 50 percent of their field goals (43-of-85) and 35 percent of their threes (7-of-20) to beat the Gins, 103-91.
Feeling like they were left on an island by the referees, the Bolts embraced an "us against the world" mentality and played with a grit and determination that outside forces can't defeat.
BOLTS OF LIGHTNING.
They took control of the boards, 50-39, and dished more assists, 17-14. Chris Newsome had 20 points. Cliff Hodge finished with 13 and 10 boards. Chris Banchero registered 11 and eight dimes while Allein Maliksi fired 25 markers.
But is this sustainable if the officiating continues to be bumpy?
With their depth and defense, the Bolts are confident they can beat a weakened Gin Kings who are missing Jamie Malonzo and Jeremiah Gray. But they fear those guys in zebra stripes more.
Resolute in the desire of not drawing the ire of the league, no Meralco or MVP group official wanted to be quoted for this piece but these concerns were relayed to me.
Game Three on Wednesday is at the Dasmarinas Arena in Cavite, a road incursion that will be packed with Ginebra diehards. The Bolts are scared of the circumstances.
Ginebra coach Tim Cone has been constantly complaining about the Bolts supposedly "holding" too much. You never hear him express such lament against Magnolia, which has an even more aggressive tact on defense.
ROAD TRIP FEARS
The Bolts dread that Cone's pleas and gamesmanship may possibly get a sympathetic ear from the refs in a pivotal Game Three.
The Gins are vulnerable. Already without the Malonzo and Gray, LA Tenorio has played just 7 minutes and 35 seconds in two games, managing only 1 point and 1 rebound.
Without LA, the Kings do not have a natural point guard in their starting unit, forcing Scottie Thompson to masquerade as one. And that's why the Gins offense doesn't have the rhythm and flow that made them previously dominant.
And this is also why whispers are growing louder around the PBA that Terrafirma star Stephen Holt is headed to Ginebra.
Meanwhile a potentially great series between two rivals is being overshadowed by doubts about officiating.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
