Meralco seeks QF slot vs TNT

Kelly Williams will man the post for TNT KaTropa in their game against Meralco Wednesday night. —SHERWIN VARDELEON

Meralco tangles with struggling sister team TNT KaTropa on Wednesday, seeking a win to formally advance to the quarterfinals of the PBA Governors’ Cup at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Tip-off is at 4:15 p.m., with the Bolts shooting to become the third team to earn safe passage to the next round, and, more importantly, stay in the hunt for a top four finish which carries a twice-to-beat advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

Meanwhile, San Miguel Beer, chasing to complete a rare Triple Crown sweep, will most likely play Terik Bridgeman against Rain or Shine in the 7 p.m. contest as the Beermen await the arrival of new import Terrence Watson.

Bridgeman, who came in to replace Wendell McKines, was a huge disappointment in his debut last Saturday, scoring just two points and grabbing six rebounds in a 90-79 loss to Alaska in Angeles City in Pampanga.

Management and coaching staff wasted no time and shopped around for a replacement, their third import in the season-closing conference. Watson is expected to plane in either late Tuesday or early Wednesday from the United States.

But a ranking team official told the Inquirer that the Beermen would likely play Bridgeman against the Elasto Painters because coaching staff doesn’t feel that Watson would be able to have at least one practice with the team.

The Bolts haven’t seen action since Aug. 18, when they nipped Phoenix Petroleum, 107-104, and it is a layoff that was a welcome one as far as coach Norman Black is concerned as it allowed injuries on some players to heal.