Meralco overpowers Rain or Shine

Meralco overpowers Rain or Shine

Meralco 87 vs. Rain or Shine 79

By rick olivares

October 24, 2010

Araneta Coliseum

Do not underestimate Ryan Gregorio. Beneath that well-dressed exterior is an assassin on the basketball court. Except that he has others to carry out his game plan. “I want to win every ball game.” said the Meralco Bolts’ kingpin, er, head coach. “I’m a warrior. I want to conquer everything.”

The PBA’s newest franchise was at 1-3 entering the Sunday match against the unpredictable Rain or Shine Elasto Painters. Thus far, they owned the longest losing streak of the new campaign with three successive loses following their opening day upset of Barangay Ginebra. But the Bolts were not ready to wave the white flag.

“It is not a lost cause,” wrote Gregorio of his side’s poor start. “Some of it is them, most of it is us. We can!”

Those latter two simple words embody who Gregorio is. When he came out in the league, he had not achieved much as a basketball player and as a coach. With three PBA titles and three coach of the year awards in close to a decade in the pro loop, it’s obvious that he’s come a long way so much that he was willing to walk out on his long-time ballclub where he cut his eyeteeth. “I like challenges.” he said of Meralco. “B-Meg was like being on cruise control. Meralco is making something out of nothing. I have players like that – Mac Mac Cardona is one. He came from down there and turned himself into a great ball player. We both come from the school of hard knocks.”

And in his fifth game as head coach of the Meralco Bolts, his team had knocked down hard a quality ballclub 87-79.

Drawing big games from forward Gabby Espinas, guard Chris Ross, center Asi Taulava, and forward Cardona, the Bolts held the Elasto Painters at bay and answered every Rain or Shine basket with one of their own for 42 minutes before they went on a 12-4 wind-up.

With 4:04 left, the Bolts led 78-75 but the Elasto Painters succumbed to a series of turnovers as well as botched layups and free throws that allowed the Bolts to escape with a win. Rain or Shine’s Sol Mercado and Gabe Norwood tried one last ditch rally as they harassed Meralco’s Chris Ross into a couple of errors but time had run out on their team.

During their three-game slide, Meralco lost by an average of 6.0 points as they crumbled in the endgame. Against Rain or Shine, the key to the Bolts’ victory was their team play and intensity that they were able to sustain all throughout.

Gregorio also cited Taulava as an example of his team’s “warrior” mentality when he revealed that the veteran big man was oft tired because he practiced twice a day (with Meralco and Smart Gilas). “He is a winner and he challenges his excuses to become a solid force for us.” The Fil-Tongan scored eight points and pulled down six rebounds. But some of his best contributions was putting the Elasto Painters’ Doug Kramer and Jervy Cruz in foul trouble.

Cardona was his typical tough and clutch self as he topscored with 27 points but also crucial to Meralco’s victory was second year playmaker Chris Ross. “He’s a gem. He only gave a glimpse of how good he can be. He’s our only (US) Division One player (Marshall University) and he has the talent we need and can build upon.” Ross tallied 12 points, four rebounds, four assists, two steals, and perhaps more importantly battled Mercado to a near standstill.

The end result put the Bolts back on the winning track for a 2-3 record and out of the cellar.

“It’s only our fifth game and it’s a long season. We have a long way to go,” said the pleased assassin after the match. “Did I mention that I like challenges?”

Meralco 87 – Cardona 27, Espinas 18, Ross 12, Omolon 9, Taulava 8, Menor 6, Belga 6, Aquino 1, Escobal 0

Rain or Shine 79 – Mercado 17, Norwood 15, Kramer 14, Reyes 8, Chan 6, Araña 6, Cruz 5, Rodriguez 4, Tang 2, Ferriols 2, Vanlandingham 0, Jazul 0, Ibanes 0