Photo by Tristan Tamayo/ INQUIRER.net
ANTIPOLO — Mike Tolomia admitted that he felt challenged playing against the famed San Miguel trio of Chris Ross, Alex Cabagnot, and Marcio Lassiter on Wednesday.
“They are the standard,” Tolomia said in Filipino.
Heaping praise to the Beermen triumvirate, however, didn’t mean that he will crack under pressure as the former Far Eastern University guard dazzled for Meralco at Ynares Center.
Tolomia lit up for 21 points, built on five treys, and had six assists and four rebounds to lead the charge for the Bolts in the second half, where they came back from a double-digit deficit.
Unfortunately for Tolomia, his stellar showing wasn’t enough as Meralco fell short, 97-103, dropping to an even 1-1 slate in the 2018 PBA Philippine Cup.
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“The coaches have been reminding me to play my game and not look at the bench if I commit a mistake. I was able to do that in the second half and I wasn’t thinking much of my miscues and I think that helped me play well,” he said.
He believes that this game, despite ending in a loss, is a good building block for the Bolts as they aim for a better showing come 2018.
“It’s a very positive thing for the team. Every year, San Miguel is the strongest team in all-Filipino. For us to make it a close game against a team as strong as them, I’m sure that it’s a positive thing for us,” he said.
Meralco goes on a 14-day break before taking on Alaska on January 10.