MERALCO goes for a second straight win versus a dangerous foe in Converge as action in the PBA Season 47 Philippine Cup shifts back to Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo City Thursday.
As third placers in the last all-Filipino and finalists in the Governors' Cup, the Bolts are easily setting out for the 6 p.m. setto as the favorites, but coach Norman Black is wise enough not to take the FiberXers for granted.
The Bolts leaned on the efforts of Reynaldo Hugnatan, Chris Newsome and Raymond Almazan as they worked on a big second-half onslaught to overcome a 16-point deficit on the way to a 109-98 win over the Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters.
It was a rousing season start for the Bolts coming from another defeat to the Barangay Ginebra Kings in the latest iteration of their Governors' Cup finals rivalry.
The FiberXers are at 1-2, a record which could have been 2-1 or even 3-0 if not just for the breaks that went against them at the endgame of their two losses.
Sponsored content:
No wonder, team owner Dennis Anthony Uy has had his satisfaction and praises for the effort dished out by the FiberXers so far.
He's confident they would battle all conference long.
"We believe our team will continue to do better and display the brand of basketball we want to bring to Filipino fans -- masigasig, puno ng puso. We'll continue to keep our eyes on the ball and double our efforts in our coming games," said Uy on his Twitter account.
He was behind the team bench as coach Jeff Cariaso and his troops pushed tiltle-holder TNT Tropang Giga to the limit, threatening a big reversal but coming up short in the end on missed free throws leading to Jayson Castro's bailout shot for Giga.
It was practically the same in their heartbreaker against Rain or Shine in the season-opening game.
Sponsored content:
"What we saw today is that the Converge FiberXers is a team to be reckoned with," said Uy shortly after their 86-83 loss to TNT.
"Breaks of the game didn't go our way but the boys played hard until the end and other teams are seeing there's no easy victory with us," the Converge honcho added.
They have one win at the expense of 2021 Philippine Cup runner-up Magnolia, 89-82, proving their mettle as a competitive bunch that can battle with the best of them. (SB)
