MERALCO and Phoenix Super LPG, two teams off to a rousing start in the PBA On Tour, dispute Win No. 2 in an electrifying showdown Sunday night at the Ynares Arena in Pasig City.
The Bolts gave newly-promoted coach Luigi Trillo a winning debut at the expense of NorthPort, 97-89, and have every intention to score a followup in the 7:30 p.m. encounter presented by Arena Plus and sponsored by Bingo Plus.
The Fuel Masters aim for the scalp of another traditional contender on the heels of their morale-boosting 106-101 dispatching of San Miguel Beer.
The two squads carry similar objectives in the pre-season, no-championship tournament, which they feel will be a good jump-off point for the regular season that starts in October.
"We're treating this professionally, so as much as possible we want to win as many games as we can," said Bolts sniper Allein Maliksi, who torched NorthPort with 21 points spiked by a 4-of-6 shooting from deep.
Sponsored content:
The Bolts are starting a new chapter under Trillo, who took over from his former boss Norman Black earlier this month.
In their first appearance since the coaching change, the Bolts unraveled a faster-paced game than the half-court sets they used to run under Black.
"New system. Marami kaming adjustments," said Maliksi.
Phoenix's youth-oriented crew, meanwhile, showed bright promise as it kept its composure to overcome a searing fourth-quarter storm by Terrence Romeo and SMB.
Simon Camacho (15) and Tyler Tio (14) led eight Fuel Masters in double-figures as they spoiled the 27-point explosion of Romeo and built momentum for their redemption bid after missing the playoffs in the season-ending Governors' Cup. (OL)
