PBA GovCup Semis: Meralco - Designed to Fail?

Nag mukhang unggoy yung Meralco
sa pangit ng rotation
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

Before anything else, we would like to give a shoutout to the Meralco Bolts for their gutsy stand despite the huge disparity in personnel and firepower in their series against the San Mig Coffee Mixers. Import Mario West put in an impressive and valiant effort despite clearly being hobbled by a shoulder injury he suffered the game before. 

But what we want to touch on this entry is to openly question just what the hell happened with the Bolts. Did they push and ride the “underdog” tag too much? Were players being withheld from being fielded in? What the hell kind of rotation and game plan was Bolts head coach Ryan Gregorio trying to play the entire series?

The way the series unraveled, the Bolts played small ball most of the time with veteran Reynel Hugnatan duking it out with San Mig Coffee’s Marc Pingris, Marqus Blakely and Rafi Reavis underneath. Spelling him was JayR Reyes, a 6”8 warm body with six handy fouls to give out at best.

Meralco finally beats Kuya

Ross' rising PG play is key

Meaning, the Meralco Bolts can now wake up in the morning, wash their faces, look in the mirror and say that yes, they finally have a victory over their big brothers in the PBA, the Talk 'n' Text Tropang Texters.

An asterisk could be put on this opening day conquest though, with most of the Texters' starting unit inactive (Jimmy Alapag, Jayson Castro, Ryan Reyes, Harvey Carey and Kelly Williams) and the remaining guns like Ranidel de Ocampo, Jarred Dillinger and Ali Peek not at 100%. Whatever, this is basketball-- if you can suit up, then you can play as the greats would always say.