MERALCO is treating its game against Barangay Ginebra on Friday as a must-win before the PBA 50th Season Governors’ Cup takes a break.
The 2-5 Bolts are expected to play with a sense of urgency, as they are on a four-game losing streak, including a 105-88 loss to Magnolia a week ago.
READ: Magnolia catches fire after delay over NAS leak, wallops Meralco
A defeat would not necessarily eliminate Meralco, but it would mean a rockier road in in Group B that has Rain or Shine on top with a 4-2 record, followed by Magnolia and Phoenix Super LPG (4-3), and Blackwater (3-3) occupying the top four spots.
“Huge game obviously for us,” active consultant Nenad Vucinic said on the eve of the game. “We have our backs against the wall with the string of losses that we had. We are in a very difficult situation, but we are determined to battle together to try to stay alive for the playoff race.”
The Bolts play their new-age fierce foes in the Gin Kings, who are also in need of wins, as they are in fifth place in Group A at 2-3.
“Ginebra is a difficult opponent to be in that position, and the situation we are in is going to require enormous effort for the team,” Vucinic said.
Meralco far from 100-percent
Vucinic pointed to the fact the Bolts have been playing shorthanded during the losing skid, no thanks to injuries and illnesses to the likes of CJ Cansino, Bong Quinto, Jason Brickman, and Raymond Almazan.
Injured players also included original import Jordon Varnado, who has yet to play a single game in the conference due to a hamstring injury, with Antonio Hester taking over his stead.
“Obviously, we had to replace an import and we had to rush Hester from the States. But he has done well for us. It wasn’t his fault that we didn’t do well. So many circumstances by the time he learned the system," Vucinic said.
“We had a couple of wins back-to-back, but we had injuries and sicknesses to our main players like Brickman, Cansino, Quinto, and Almazan… But we have enough good players. We lost that game against Rain or Shine which we shouldn’t have lost. We had that in the bag. But that’s how this game goes.”
Due to the tournament format, Vucinic said they have to start winning before the league’s respite for Gilas Pilipinas' participation in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers and the Asian Games
“When you only have 10 games, and you fall behind too much, you don’t have enough room to recover. But with the Bolts, we will fight until we can breathe and we are looking forward to the game tomorrow,” he said.
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