Deined of an outright playoff entry on Thursday, Meralco tries to do it again when it faces first round victim NorthPort in the PBA Governors' Cup on Saturday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Malate, Manila.
NorthPort vs. Meralco
When: Saturday, September 14. 5 p.m.
Where: Ninoy Aquino Stadium
Watch: RPTV, PBA Rush, Pilipinas Live
Out to regain their footing
NorthPort and Meralco are coming off defeats entering Saturday’s tussle. The Batang Pier bowed to Converge, 107-99, last Wednesday to go down to a share of fourth place in Group A, while the Bolts were beaten by TNT, 108-99, last Thursday to drop to second place in the group stage.
Chase for playoff spot intensify
With its loss in their last game, NorthPort is tied with Converge for fourth place with a 3-4 record with three games remaining in the group stage. The Batang Pier wrap up pool play with matches against Meralco, Magnolia, and TNT, all of which are ahead of them in the team standings.
Free throw shooting
Converge made a tactical decision to force Venky Jois to shoot free throws and it paid off with the NorthPort import shooting a miserable 12-of-27 from the foul line in perhaps a bid for the FiberXers to neutralize the running game of the Batang Pier. Will we see another similar strategy by the Bolts?
Defending the running game
In facing NorthPort, Meralco must neutralize the running game of the Batang Pier that have been one of their weapons. In their game against TNT, Meralco gave up 21 fastbreak points, certainly not part of the personality of the defensive-minded Bolts.
The Bolts (5-2), who are playing with a depleted roster, are still smarting from a 108-99 loss to the TNT Tropang Giga on Thursday.
The wards of coach Luigi Trillo will now aim for a bounce-back victory against NorthPort (3-4) as both teams clash at 5 p.m.
Meralco dumped NorthPort, 109-99, in their initial meeting last August despite playing without veterans Allein Maliksi, Raymund Almazan and Aaron Black.
The Bolts will try to rely on their solid bench that includes Bong Quinto, Anjo Caram and rookie CJ Cansino, who have been stepping up well to bring the needed support for starters Allen Durham, Chris Newsome and Chris Banchero.
The Batang Pier, though, are expected to bring their A-game as they also chase for a playoff spot.
Heading into this game, NorthPort is tied with Converge at fourth spot in the Group A standings at 3-4. In the main game, the FiberXers seek to keep their playoff hopes alive as they gun for their second straight win against the Dyip.
Converge debuted this season with a lopsided 127-95 lynching of Terrafirma during their first meeting last month.
