Brian Butch of Meralco (dark) vs Aldrech Ramos of Air21 (light). PBA IMAGE by Nuki Sabio
MANILA, Philippines — Meralco tries to stay in the upper half of the standings in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup eliminations when the Bolts, coming off a rousing come-from-behind victory, battle struggling powerhouse Rain or Shine Wednesday night at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Brian Butch will still suit up for the Bolts, who found no reason to give him the pink slip last Sunday after he erupted for 40 points and 31 rebounds and keyed Meralco’s rise from 20 points down in a 109-98 whipping of Air21.
The game is slated at 5:45 p.m., before the Express try to bounce back from that meltdown against Barangay Ginebra at 8 p.m.
The game could prove crucial for both squads as they snap a 2-3 tie in the standings.
A replacement for Butch—Darnell Jackson—is already in town ready to take his job, but that gem of a game against the Express gave the coaching staff and management no other choice but to retain him at least for another game.
A similar performance against the Elasto Painters Wednesday could ultimately seal Butch’s place in the team. As things stand, Meralco still has an outside chance in the race for a top-two slot.
A defeat for the Elasto Painters, though, would imperil their bid to advance to the playoffs.
The Painters, finalists in the last two conferences, are at 1-3 and definitely cannot afford another loss since it will put them outside of the magic circle of eight teams that will advance past this round.
Rain or Shine has decided to stick it out with Alexander McLean, even though there are reports that a certain Wayne Chism is on his way to replace the left-handed McLean.
Jared Dillinger and Gary David are again expected to help out Butch offensively.
Butch scored 21 of his output in the final period against the Express, who couldn’t hold on to an 81-61 lead in the third quarter and eventually went down in flames.
The Ginebra coaching staff, after having had a look at Wesley Witherspoon’s debut game tape, will have devised strategies to stop the Express’ prolific import who plays his second game.
Witherspoon scored 44 points against Meralco. Leon Rodgers will be hard-pressed to deliver a win for the Gin Kings, who are also struggling despite a solid local lineup.
Rodgers is also rumoured to be on the way out despite being a formidable scorer. Ginebra officials are said to be unhappy about the import’s lack of desire to bang bodies underneath and to help in other aspects of the team’s style of play.