The Meralco Bolts squandered a golden opportunity to knock off their more ballyhooed sister team TNT and, in the process, make it to the 2017 Commish Cup semifinals a few nights ago, but don't cry for them. Don't feel too down. This is a testament to how far the Bolts have gone as a team, and it's a reminder of the potential that is simmering beneath the surface of coach Norman Black's squad.
Sure, we have Jared Dillinger tweeting a firestorm about his not having any love lost for the Ginebra players, and there's certainly a sizeable amount of emotional residue from their 2016 Govs' Cup Finals clash, but the fact of the matter is the Bolts just couldn't finish the job against the Ka Tropa.
Still, there were more than a couple of good things to say about this Meralco quintet.
Baser Amer
What can I say? A year after being under the tutelage of Jimmy Alapag, former San Beda Red Lion Baser Amer has come into his own. He has taken the mantle of leadership for Meralco, and he has blossomed into arguably their most potent force outside of import Alex Stepheson. In his rookie season, Amer put up 5.5 points and 1.6 assists per game while shooting 37.6% from the field and 26.4% from beyond the arc. This season, Amer has raised those averages to 12.4 points and 2.7 assists per outing while also hitting 48.9% of his field goals and more than 36% of his triples. Amer is an All-Star in the making, and his recent inclusion in the Gilas pool is totally well-deserved.
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Alex Stepheson
6'10 Stepeheson was exactly the kind of bully import that Meralco needed to anchor its offense and defense. With Stepheson gobbling up the rebounds, blocking shots, and hitting the gimmes around the basket, Meralco's marquee perimeter players could more easily make things happen. The California native and former CBA import fit in nicely, scoring around 16 per game on top of hauling down a dozen boards and blocking around 2 shots per outing. Those are numbers nobody else on coach Norman Black's frontcourt can put up, so Stepheson should be given a ton of credit. Will he be back next season? It could make sense, though he's set to turn 30 next month already.
Jared Dillinger
Dillinger had a solid season in 2015-2016 for Meralco, but his performance in the first conference this season was utterly forgettable. He has bounced back this conference, averaging more than 14 points per game while also waxing hot from long distance, hitting 2.5 triples per contest. Are we seeing a resurgence in Dillinger's game? I sure hope so. He was supposed to be one of the most versatile wingmen we've ever seen in the PBA, but he has always been held back by inconsistency and injury. When healthy and aggressive, however, he can be an absolute game-changer for the Bolts.
Chris Newsome
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Talking about game-changers, Newsome continues to be among the most reliable for Meralco. The 6'3 combo wingman was already one of the league's best last year, scoring 12.1 points per game along with nearly 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 steal per contest. This season, he has been even more productive. He has improved his production to 14.5 points, 6.2 boards, 4.9 assists, and 1.2 steals per game, truly making him part of the league's elite. With Newsome clicking on all cylinders, Meralco should remain a legitimate playoff threat in the next conference, especially if their other key players like Amer and Dillinger continue their high level of play. Of course, it'll also be a big plus if they can get an import who will fit in really well with the team.
