Meralco Bolts’ import Johnny O’Bryant. –PBA IMAGES
Being a pinch hitter is no stranger to Meralco assistant Luigi Trillo, who on Friday was again tasked to call the shots with coach Norman Black out for health and safety reasons.
And after seeing the Bolts get their first win in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup, Trillo wants another pinch hitter in Bong Quinto to continue plugging the holes left by injured star guard Chris Newsome.
“I have full confidence (in Quinto),” Trillo said after a 105-92 Meralco victory over Terrafirma at Smart Araneta Coliseum, a result that stretched the skid of the winless Dyip to 20 consecutive games dating back to last season.
Later in the night, the Bay Area Dragons encountered some scary moments late before holding off the Converge FiberXers, 106-100, to raise their tournament-leading record to 4-0.
Despite leading by 22 points in the fourth, the midseason conference’s guest team had to weather the FiberXers’ uprising to secure the victory.
With Newsome expected to miss at least three weeks with a strained calf, Meralco started out 0-2 and spent the last five days leading to Friday finding ways in dealing with the adversity.Quinto came through, hitting eight of his 17 points in the fourth that had the Bolts gaining control after 10 ties and 19 lead changes. Chris Banchero had all-around numbers of 12 points, five rebounds, seven assists and three steals.
Trillo believes both, particularly Quinto, can do the job in a bid to help Meralco overcome its disappointing start.
“If you have him [Quinto], Banchero, [Allein Maliksi] … they just have to chip in to help Aaron [Black] out, and JO [import Johnny O’Bryant] and Raymond [Almazan],” he said.
“These guys can come in, and I have full faith,” added the former Coach of the Year after continuing his recent success of being an interim.
Trillo brought back memories of the season-opening Philippine Cup when he guided Meralco to four wins in the Bolts’ last five games of the eliminations before defeating old rival Barangay Ginebra in the quarterfinals. Black then returned after spending a month in the United States attending to the demise of his mother.
It also helped that O’Bryant made an imprint in the Meralco pullaway, making 16 of his 31 points in the second half after fading late in the overtime meltdown against NorthPort and playing catch up in the defeat at the hands of Barangay Ginebra.
O’Bryant’s 11 rebounds, four assists and three steals are also reasons why Meralco remains on a high on the former NBA player, whom Trillo described as “very coachable.”
“JO is a very versatile import,” said Trillo. “When we led by 20 before NorthPort came up and snuck a win, you can see that he has the tools. But obviously, we’re missing Chris Newsome, and that hurts us also.
“I think Johnny is a guy who can do a lot of things. Not only is he an offensive threat, I think he is quick on his feet [and] defensively, he’s versatile. It’s really tough to get that first win because you’re still in the adjustment phase and the players were a bit jittery.
“But now that you get that first win, the confidence comes up so I’m happy for him.”
Maliksi and Aaron Black added 18 and 17 points to help Meralco end a rare skid to start an import-laced tournament.
The Dyip were led by Import Lester Prosper’s 35 points and 18 rebounds