With several pieces added to the crew that finished second last season, coach Norman Black believes his Meralco Bolts are slowly overcoming a key obstacle.
“We’re starting to blend well, starting to become cohesive,” Black said after the Bolts bamboozled Alaska, 106-78, Friday to move within another victory of clinching a twice-to-beat advantage in the first round of the PBA Governors’ Cup playoffs at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Rookie Mike Tolomia, added to the lineup less than a month ago, and veteran superstar Ranidel de Ocampo, playing his first game with Meralco after his acquisition from TNT KaTropa in a three-team deal, helped the Bolts break loose in the second period and yawn their way to a seventh win in nine games.
The loss was the first in the last four games for the Aces, who slumped to a 3-7 card and are in danger of missing the playoffs.
Meralco has two games to nail the win that will seal their place in the top four and the Bolts—against GlobalPort and powerhouse San Miguel Beer.
“There are a lot of teams fighting for top four spots,” Black stressed. “And this is the time of the conference where you need to win games, otherwise, you won’t get it. And a top four berth has been our goal right from the start.”
Meanwhile, Star snapped a three-game losing streak with a 109-83 decision of GlobalPort in the second game.
The Hotshots got back in top four contention after rising to 5-3, while pushing the Batang Pier harder to the wall with a 3-6 record.
Tolomia hit all five of his triple tries and finished with a career-high 24 points, while De Ocampo, six times a champion with TNT, scored 10 points in just 16 minutes.
Allen Durham had 26 points, 18 rebounds, six assists and two blocks to lead the Bolts.
Meanwhile, the Gin Kings shoot for the first of the top four berths when they clash with the Rain or Shine Painters in a Petron Saturday Special schedule at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
Game time is 5:15 p.m., after the Beermen battle the winless KIA Picanto at 3 p.m.