Chris Newsome (with ball) is slated to play against Terrafirma. —AUGUST DELACRUZ
Meralco hardly looks like the formidable Bolts squad that won the Philippine Cup nearly two months ago, with Luigi Trillo and Nenad Vucinic’s charges playing as a walking wounded lot with injuries to Allein Maliksi and Raymond Almazan. Chris Newsome, the club cornerstone, also has not spent enough time with his crew after a well-deserved break.
Hopefully, things could change soon for Meralco. And the Bolts have a great chance of righting their ship this Wednesday when they take on winless Terrafirma at Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Malate, Manila.
Trillo told the Inquirer on Tuesday that Newsome, the Finals MVP in that title run, will be suiting up against the Dyip even after an ankle problem that had him leave last week’s eventual loss to TNT early.
Also coming back on Wednesday is Maliksi, the veteran gunner who missed the team’s first two games due to a thigh issue.
“Raymond should be OK by the end of the week,” Trillo said of his defensive anchor who continues to deal with an injury of his own.
Early start
“We sorely missed them in our last games, but we have enough guys whom we believe in and know can step up,” Trillo added. The Bolts are at 1-1 despite having to begin their season earlier than usual.
Traditionally, teams that played in the last championship series are given the latest debut schedules for the next conference, allowing the winning teams to savor their victories and both clubs to cope with fatigue.
The Bolts turned out to be an exemption this season, opening the 49th year of the PBA in a duel against Magnolia that they won, 99-94, with returning Allen Durham leading the charge.
“Normally, when you just won a championship, or when you’re the champion, you take two weeks off before your first game. We played in the first game (of the season). It’s just the luck of the draw,” Trillo said in a separate interview.
Earlier this month, Trillo spoke extensively about bracing for adversities early on—something Meralco also dealt with before winning the franchise’s first PBA crown. INQ