Games today:
(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
4:30 p.m. — Meralco vs Terrafirma
7:30 p.m. — Rain or Shine vs Converge
Inspired Meralco looks to use the momentum of its blowout victory over a top contender before the long break to bring down Terrafirma and boost its playoffs chances in the Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Coming off a two-week rest, the Bolts are pumped up to string their first back-to-back wins of the conference in a collision with the Dyip, who have the same mission of sparking a winning run, in the 4:30 p.m. curtain-raiser.
Meanwhile, clashing at 7:30 p.m. are the rejuvenated Rain or Shine and winless Converge.
Meralco marches back into the battlefield beaming with confidence following a 91-73 rout of a stunned Barangay Ginebra side last 15 March to arrest a two-game slide before the league took a timeout for the Bacolod All-Star Game and the Holy Week observance.
The Bolts sport a 2-3 win-loss record at ninth spot but are very much in contention for a spot in the next round.
“I think it’s great for us we won the game (against Ginebra). Our record is very deceiving but we’re playing good teams also,” Meralco coach Luigi Trillo said.
The mentor expects veteran Allein Maliksi to show the same energy and focus he head when he led the Bolts in the previous game with 25 points including 11 in their third-quarter rally.
“Allein’s been solid for us. Look at our games before, he’s our highest scorer and he leads by example,” Trillo said.
Meralco will also bank on Chris Newsome, Aaron Black, Cliff Hodge and seasoned big man Raymond Almazan.
But Terrafirma won’t yield easily.
The Dyip shocked Blackwater, 92-91, last 16 March for a 3-2 slate tied with their victim.
Streaky shooter Juami Tiongson had been playing consistently for Terrafirma averaging 22.0 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game complementing top overall pick Stephen Holt’s impressive 22.7 points, 8.3 boards and 5.0 assists per outing norms.
“We just have to keep on working hard because we have a great chance of making it to the playoffs,” Tiongson, who nailed the game-winning trey the last time out, said.
The Elasto Painters, on the other hand, are also on the prowl for a winning roll after ending a four-game slump.
Rain or Shine blew out Phoenix, 100-85, for its first victory in the All-Filipino conference.
The Elasto Painters will welcome big man Papot Paredes with the possibility of Keith Datu missing the whole tournament to recover from a right knee injury.
The 6-foot-6 journeyman, who signed a one-conference contract, is expected to give Beau Belga and Santi Santillan a hand underneath while Adrian Nocum, Jhonard Clarito and Mac Belo providing help.
It will be the FiberXers sixth attempt to barge into the win column after dropping five straight games.
