MERALCO is prepared to face the solid San Miguel Beer squad known for its offensive firepower.
The Bolts will gauge their strength against the Beermen in Game 1 of the 48th Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup best-of-seven finals this Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“We don’t know what’s going to happen in Game 1, but we understand what San Miguel is capable of,” said Meralco head coach Norman Black.
The San Miguel Beermen, participating in their 11th championship series, have had 11 days of rest after securing the first finals slot with a four-game sweep of their best-of-seven semifinals against the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.
This extended break has left the Beermen well-prepared for action against the Meralco Bolts, who are making their first-ever finals appearance.
“It’s not going to be easy, but we have enough,” added assistant coach Luigi Trillo.
Defense will be crucial for the Bolts, and while key players Chris Newsome and Allein Maliksi will be essential, Trillo emphasized the depth of the team.
“We know that we don’t just have eight players ready to play, but 12 who are ready to compete. From our perspective, we’re focusing on our game plan,” he said.
Meanwhile, Beermen head coach Jorge Gallent stressed the importance of taking Game 1. “The first game is crucial for every team. We need to start strong, win Game 1, and see what happens,” Gallent stated.
The Beermen, who had nearly two weeks to prepare for the finals, are determined to maintain their momentum after their dominant performance in the semifinals against the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.
In their last finals appearance in the 2022-2023 Philippine Cup, the Beermen emerged victorious with a 4-3 series win.
