MANILA: Meralco achieved a first in its young PBA life last night, and coach Ryan Gregorio knows too well how short this new experience could be.
The Bolts outgunned Powerade in a wild finish and pounded out a 94-86 victory that put them in the semifinals of the Governors’ Cup, but the task that is now at hand in order to take another step forward is bordering on the impossible.
But Gregorio, ever the fighter that he is, is not about to throw in the towel.
“We’re familiar exactly on the thing that is required of us to make the Finals,” Gregorio said. “And that is nothing less than a sweep. But for as long as there is a chance, a small window open for us, we will grab the opportunity.”
Winning over Powerade made the Bolts the sixth and last team to make the playoffs, and they will carry over a 4-5 record into the round which is a full four games behind No. 1 Rain or Shine and one game off on the fourth and fifth-ranked squads.
The Elasto Painters have an 8-1 record, while sister squads Barangay Ginebra and Petron Blaze will take 5-4 slates into the playoffs.
This will be the first time in their two-year participation in the pro league that the Bolts have advanced to the semifinals, and they have Mario West and Mac Cardona to thank for hitting the baskets that told in the stretch.
And then there is Asi Taulava, the 39-year-old veteran whose intensity rubbed off on the rest of the team.
West drained two critical baskets inside the final four minutes, and Cardona hit an unorthodox jumphook off Powerade import Omar Sneed with 36.5 seconds left that eventually rounded out scoring for the night.
But the game was actually not the center of talk last night after Don Allado, the veteran Barako Bull center, twitted several derogatory remarks Tuesday night accusing the PBA of being rigged and fixed.
Barako Bull lost to Powerade in the first of two KO matches that the Tigers played, and Allado, apparently was not able to take the eight-point loss, posted several items on his Twitter account that media entities picked up.
Commissioner Chito Salud called Allado as “clearly out of his mind and a sore loser,” and hinted at a lifetime ban on the former La Salle ace and member of the Alaska dynasty.
“(This is the) first time I have heard a player blatantly accusing the league of being fixed. I am aching to hear his side tomorrow,” Salud told reporters. “Tomorrow is reckoning day for him.”
Allado will appear before Salud at 11 a.m. on today and if he cannot back his claims, faces stiff sanctions not seen in the league before.
“Obviously, it was a result of emotion. But it’s a test, that’s the time you check your emotions, you’re a professional, been here for 13-14 years, and in one swift act, you destroy it.”
Salud spent the better part of yesterday answering interview requests from all forms of media as Allado’s statements have threatened to rock the very foundations of the league that saw birth in 1975.
“I was really surprised and saddened by the statement of Don,” Salud said. “Those are reckless and baseless. (Those statements) are detrimental to the best interests of the league, and they are inexcusable and unacceptable.” Meralco plays Barangay Ginebra first in the semifinals slated at the Ynares Center in Antipolo tomorrow even as Petron Blaze has reportedly settled for Marcus Faison to pinch hit for Eddie Basden.
Basden has been injured for the last two Petron games, but he is being asked by management and coaching staff to stay and recuperate.
The Boosters battle the Painters in the second game in Antipolo.
Bolts beat Powerade in KO game to make semis
