MERALCO pulled off a 99-94 win over Magnolia in the opener of the PBA Governors’ Cup on Sunday despite missing the services of two key players from last season’s champion team.
The Bolts were without the injured Raymond Almazan and Allein Maliksi to open Season 49 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Almazan had a tight back, while Maliksi felt something in his groin, according to coach Luigi Trillo.
READ Banchero four-point shot highlights Meralco's win over Magnolia
“We don’t want to rush them. We just don’t want to force them. They’re a bit older na rin so it’s just a safety precaution,” said Trillo afterwards.
The two played major roles when the Bolts scored their breakthrough championship in the PBA last season by winning the Philippine Cup crown.
The 36-year-old Maliksi was relegated to the injured/reserved list prior to the game and was replaced by Jolo Mendoza, who provided quality minutes by finishing with 13 points including scoring the second four-point shot in PBA history in the waning minutes of the second quarter.
Maliksi said he could be out of action for the next two weeks.
“Ang pakiramdam ko kasi okay na pero sabi nga ng doctor ingatan ko na lang,” he related.
Almazan, 35, could be back as early as the Bolts’ next game against TNT Tropang Giga on Thursday.
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