Meralco ‘wanted to win more,’ says MVP

Meralco Bolts. PBA IMAGES

Manny V. Pangilinan couldn’t be more proud of Meralco after the Bolts finally made their first finals appearance on Monday even if it came at the expense of his other PBA-owned franchise in TNT.

“It was either five or six years, but at long last, they’re in the finals. Congratulations to Meralco, they played a good series,” Pangilinan told reporters after the Bolts knocked off the KaTropa in Game 4 of their best-of-five semifinals series at Smart Araneta Coliseum. “To have beaten a team like Talk ‘N Text for three straight games is quite a feat, so they deserve all the congratulations, and a job well done.”

READ: Meralco enters first finals, takes down top seed TNT

“There can only be one winner, right. It could have gone either way,” the longtime sports patron added.

Pangilinan praised Meralco, which joined the PBA in 2010, for its strong desire to win, something which TNT wasn’t able to show in the final three games of the series.

“They were well-coached, and the team played with a lot of intensity and commitment and energy, which I did not see in Talk ‘N Text for the last three games. They wanted to win more, so I think it’s as simple as that,” he said. “Now why Talk ‘N Text didn’t want to put the effort is a big mystery. I don’t understand it. But you know, it’s a tribute to Meralco, a tribute to the Bolts. They deserve to win.”

READ: Uichico: Meralco prepared well for TNT

TNT won the series opener in a blowout, but that embarrassing loss also brought Meralco to life to pull off three in a row, including Games 3 and 4 where it missed the services of its star swingman Jared Dillinger due to a hamstring injury.

Pangilinan also commended Bolts’ veteran point guard Jimmy Alapag for his leadership.

“I feel great for him. I think he was instrumental in Games 2 and 3, and tonight he kept the team stable. He’s a good leader for the Bolts.”