Meralco Bolts get to celebrate PH Cup win again for last time

Meralco Bolts coaching staff led by head coach Luigi Trillo and active consultant Nenad Vucinic receives the Baby Dalupan Coach of the Year award during the PBA Press Corps Awards Night at Novotel Araneta City in Cubao, Quezon City.

Tuesday night became the last time the Meralco coaching staff and some of its players, who were given due recognition by the PBA Press Corps (PBAPC), celebrated the franchise’s first title, which it won last season.

That was during the PBA Press Corps’ 30th Awards Night at Novotel in Cubao, Quezon City, and it came amid the Bolts’ preparation for Thursday’s best-of-five Governors’ Cup quarterfinal opener against Barangay Ginebra, the next step in their quest to win another crown.

“I keep telling the players that our championship [from last season’s Philippine Cup] is over. We are nobody again and we get to fight (for) our reputation again,” active consultant Nenad Vucinic said after the entire Bolts’ coaching staff was named the Baby Dalupan Coach of the Year winner by the scribes.

He was joined on stage by coach Luigi Trillo, consultant Norman Black and assistants Sandro Soriano and Gene Afable in receiving the trophy from the PBAPC and members of the Dalupan family, as the award capped off a night toasting some of Season 48’s best achievers.

One of those in attendance was Barangay Ginebra counterpart Tim Cone, the winner of the Dalupan trophy last season who, on Tuesday, was handed the President’s Award.

Cone earlier had conversations with Trillo, Black and Defensive Player of the Year Cliff Hodge as the two teams exchanged pleasantries before their battle set at 7:30 p.m. at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

A Meralco-Ginebra battle seems like an annual event, like the Press Corps Awards, or a never-ending saga like Star Wars or any of Coco Martin’s two long-time primetime series. The two teams will meet in a series for the seventh time.

Storied rivalry

After losing the first five, including four in the Finals of this very conference, Meralco has won the last two—a best-of-three quarterfinals in the 2022 Philippine Cup and the best-of-seven semis of last year’s Philippine Cup, which the Bolts went through on the way to the crown.

“We have a lot of work ahead of us, and you are only as good as your last game,” said Vucinic.

For the fourth time in both teams’ storied rivalry, it will be Justin Brownlee of the Gin Kings battling the Bolts’ Allen Durham, both three-time Best Import awardees. Their current showdown, however, will be their first outside of a championship duel.

But perhaps the most interesting showdown will be on the tactical side, with Vucinic and Trillo looking to outwit Cone, like they did last May.

“We have huge respect for coach Tim. When I watched Gilas play in Riga against Latvia [at the Olympic qualifying tournament], I was shocked, to be honest,” said the Serbian-born Vucinic.

“Not many teams can actually do that in the middle of Riga to play such a good team as Latvia. So I have full respect for coach Tim.”

The night was for most part a Meralco-filled affair, with Bong Quinto being named Mr. Quality Minutes and the Bolts getting the Game of the Season for the thrilling title-clinching Game 6 of the Philippine Cup Finals that ended on Chris Newsome’s last-second jumper.

An iconic figure from both Meralco and Ginebra’s past was honored too, with Robert Jaworski, represented by his son Dodot, receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Cone was not alone as Ginebra’s representative, with Stephen Holt being part of the All-Rookie Team for his exploits last season with Terrafirma, LA Tenorio sharing the Comeback Player of the Year honors with Magnolia’s Ian Sangalang and Alfrancis Chua, Ginebra governor and San Miguel Corporation sports director, getting the Danny Floro Executive of the Year award.