Jun 21, 2018

Coveted seat at stake in Meralco-TNT Katropa matchup

Kinship, alliance, brotherhood or whatever bonding they feel with one another will be put aside as Meralco and TNT KaTropa slug it out in a crucial setto in the PBA Commissioner's Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Friday.

The Bolts and the Texters, sister teams under the MVP Group of Companies, clash in a key match at 7 p.m. with both fighting for their Top Two aspirations.

With four straight wins, the Bolts are now tied with the Alaska Milk Aces at second place with identical 7-2 slates. The Texters, meanwhile, straddle at fourth at 6-3 following back-to-back losses to Magnolia and San Miguel Beer.

Coach Nash Racela and his troops must win their last two games against the Bolts and the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters Sunday to have a shot at a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals of this tourney where they finished second to San Miguel last season.

The Texters, however, face a tough challenge against the Bolts who are on a hot run with stirring victories over the Barangay Ginebra Kings, the Phoenix Fuel Masters, the Blackwater Elite and the Aces.

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Coach Norman Black and his chargers haven't lost a game since being nosed out by the Magnolia Pambansang Manok Hotshots, 79-81, on May 18.

The Bolts were superb in their 15-point conquest of the Aces the last time out. Alaska had been unbeaten in their last seven games before being stopped by Meralco.

"It's a critical game on our bid to gain a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals. We have control of our fate but we have to keep on winning. If we lose, we go down in the team standings as quickly," said Black.

Meralco has been exceptional on defense as of late, limiting its last two opponents to an average of 74.5 points.

Needless to say, Arinze Onuaku is a steady anchor for the Bolts on both ends. "He's controlling the inside for us," said Black.

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Against the Texters, Onuaku will be pitted against Josh Smith in a battle of the giants.

The question is which local group will play better.(SB)