MERALCO coach Norman Black differs from the popular view that the PBA Season 46 Philippine Cup would be a four-cornered fight among San Miguel Beer, Barangay Ginebra, Magnolia and TNT Tropang Giga.
"Any of those teams can be beat. And that's what we'll try to do this coming conference," Black has said, with their semifinal finish in the Clark bubble tourney surely adding to his optimism.
Determined to contend as they've been doing especially in the Governors' Cup, Black and his chargers launch their bid versus the NorthPort Batang Pier in the 6 p.m. mainer of the season kickoff Friday at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
"We're ready to get back to work. We've waited seven months for this," said Black, eager to get his team back into action after some facelift from the entry of Mac Belo and Alvin Pasaol.
Gone though is longtime ace point guard Baser Amer, with the playmaking chores left in the hands of Anjo Caram, Nard Pinto and Clark bubble top rookie Aaron Black.
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The team is surely upbeat after narrowly missing the 2020 Philippine Cup finals, barely losing the deciding Game Five, 80-83, of their semis showdown with eventual champion Barangay Ginebra.
They tweaked their lineups with their acquisition of Belo and Pasaol, and made serious preparation for the new season with a bubble training in Laoag, Ilocos Norte.
Black described the Ilocos camp as "very helpful in preparing the Meralco team for the upcoming season."
But they could be tested right in their first game while ranged against the NorthPort Batang Pier who had their own key movements in the offseason.
Alas, NorthPort might not be able to play yet 7-1 giant Greg Slaughter who's recovering from an injury.
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But Robert Bolick is back, and the FIBA World Cup veteran is likely to lead their charge with Sean Anthony.
Coach Pido Jarencio also has vital recruits from the Rookie Draft in Jaime Malonzo and Troy Rike who add size and ceiling for the Batang Pier.
NorthPort has nowhere to go but up after its 11th place finish in the Clark bubble marked by a solitary win against 11 losses. (SB)
