MERALCO has history on its side when it plays Phoenix Super LPG in a do-or-die match Sunday to determine which team earns a semifinal berth in the PBA 48th Season Commissioner’s Cup at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
The Bolts go up against the Fuel Masters in the lone game of the night at 6:30 p.m., the winner facing Magnolia Chicken Timplados in a best-of-five semifinals.
Meralco forced a knockout duel for a semifinal berth on Wednesday when it defeated Phoenix, 116-107, in three overtimes.
Trillo: 'We are excited'
“Buo ‘yung loob namin, we are excited. You want to play in this kind of environment,” said Meralco coach Luigi Trillo.
The Bolts are in familiar territory. This is the third time they will be playing a knockout game in the quarterfinals as the No. 5 seed. Meralco beat Ginebra in a best-of-three series in the 2022-23 Philippine Cup, and San Miguel, which had a twice-to-win situation in the 2020 Philippine Cup bubble.
Trillo, however, pointed out that the series against Ginebra and San Miguel were a different dimension than their coming clash with Phoenix.
“Nung natalo namin Ginebra, best-of-three ‘yun and we had to lose one and it came down to the last shot. ‘Yung San Miguel, that was also something good but, sa totoo lang, wala si June Mar, wala ‘yung mga big stars nila.”
On the other hand, he said “This is a different Phoenix team. They are complete. They have a solid seven guys and they play as a team,” said Trillo.
History favors Meralco
Meralco can also find solace in the fact that it has beaten Phoenix, also when the Fuel Masters had a twice-to-beat advantage, when they coliided in the quarterfinals of the 2018 Governors’ Cup.
But he expressed some tripidation to do a repeat of what happened five years ago.
“Malaki ang respeto ko sa Phoenix. If you see them play, they defeated a lot of teams. Marami na silang na-upset. You can say na magaling si coach Jamike (Jarin), si Perkins is healthy, marami silang materyales. Everytime we face them, you have to respect them,” said Trillo.
Phoenix coach Jarin lauded the heart of his players during the triple overtime classic, and expressed confidence that they can still pull through against Meralco.
“That’s the reason why you work hard in the eliminations, to get the twice-to-beat advantage so you have that luxury na if you don’t get it on the first try, you have another chance to get it,” said Jarin.
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